Diego Rivera at Blue LLama Jazz Club

A world-class musician, composer, arranger and educator, Diego Rivera has entertained audiences for over 20 years. Rivera is known for his muscular tone and unique blend of straight-ahead mainstream jazz fused with music inspired by his Latino background and heritage. He currently holds an appointment as Associate Professor of Jazz Saxophone at Michigan State University where he also serves as Associate Director of Jazz Studies.

Since 1999, Rivera has performed concerts at the most prestigious venues and festivals across the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. He has several credits to his name as a recording artist, composer and arranger and his newest project Connections, will be released in the summer of 2019 on Posi-Tone Records. In addition to his own group, The Diego Rivera Quartet, he has performed and toured extensively with JUNO-Award winning Jazz Vocalist, Sophie Milman, The Rodney Whitaker Quartet, The Ulysses Owens New Century Big Band, the Jazz @ Dr. Phillips Center Orchestra and the Gathering Orchestra. Rivera has also performed with artists: Ellis Marsalis, Kurt Elling, Christian McBride, Wycliffe Gordon, PRISM Saxophone Quartet, The Gerald Wilson Big Band and the Lincoln Center Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra....

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A world-class musician, composer, arranger and educator, Diego Rivera has entertained audiences for over 20 years. Rivera is known for his muscular tone and unique blend of straight-ahead mainstream jazz fused with music inspired by his Latino background and heritage. He currently holds an appointment as Associate Professor of Jazz Saxophone at Michigan State University where he also serves as Associate Director of Jazz Studies.

Since 1999, Rivera has performed concerts at the most prestigious venues and festivals across the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. He has several credits to his name as a recording artist, composer and arranger and his newest project Connections, will be released in the summer of 2019 on Posi-Tone Records. In addition to his own group, The Diego Rivera Quartet, he has performed and toured extensively with JUNO-Award winning Jazz Vocalist, Sophie Milman, The Rodney Whitaker Quartet, The Ulysses Owens New Century Big Band, the Jazz @ Dr. Phillips Center Orchestra and the Gathering Orchestra. Rivera has also performed with artists: Ellis Marsalis, Kurt Elling, Christian McBride, Wycliffe Gordon, PRISM Saxophone Quartet, The Gerald Wilson Big Band and the Lincoln Center Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra.

Rivera is a passionate educator who has presented masterclasses at schools and universities both in the United States and abroad. Several of Professor Rivera’s former students enjoy careers as professional musicians performing with artists such as: Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Birdland Big Band, The Count Basie Orchestra, The DIVA Jazz Orchestra and the multi GRAMMY-Award winning group, Snarky Puppy.

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