Diego Rivera

A world-class musician, composer, arranger, and educator, Diego Rivera has captivated audiences for over 25 years with his muscular tone and compelling blend of straight-ahead jazz infused with music inspired by his Chicano heritage.

Since 1999, he has performed at premier venues and festivals across the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. In addition to leading his own ensemble, Rivera has toured internationally with GRAMMY Award-winning vocalist Kurt Elling, JUNO Award-winner Sophie Milman, the SEIKO Summer Jazz All-Stars, the Ulysses Owens Jr. Big Band, and the Rodney Whitaker Quintet. His extensive performance credits include performances with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, Ellis Marsalis, Christian McBride, Wycliffe Gordon, PRISM Saxophone Quartet, the Gerald Wilson Big Band, and the Lincoln Center Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra.

Rivera is a recording artist for Posi-Tone Records and has released several critically acclaimed albums as a bandleader. He has also appeared as a sideman, composer, and arranger on numerous recordings for Posi-Tone, Mack Avenue, and Detroit Music Factory. In 2022, he was one of twelve recipients of Chamber Music America’s New Jazz Works commission, which led to the creation of Ofrenda—a 10-movement suite inspired by the tradition of the ofrenda, an altar created to honor and remember loved ones. The work was later recorded and released on Posi-Tone.

As a passionate educator, Rivera has presented masterclasses at institutions across the U.S. and abroad. His students have gone on to perform with leading ensembles including the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, the Christian McBride Big Band, the Birdland Big Band, the Count Basie Orchestra, the DIVA Jazz Orchestra, and the multi-GRAMMY Award-winning group Snarky Puppy.