- Saxophonist - Composer - Arranger - Educator
Diego Rivera has been called, "A vital, new voice on the saxophone." In 1999, Rivera toured nationally with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra for their Big Band '99 U.S. tour. Since, his performances have taken him throughout North America, Russia and Japan. In 2002, Rivera accepted as position as Instructor of Jazz Saxophone and Improvisation at Michigan State University. His commitment to the education of young jazz musicians resulted in his appointment as Associate Conductor of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra's Civic Jazz Ensembles. The Diego Rivera Quartet won critical acclaim having been recognized as "Best Jazz Act" by the Lansing State Journal. In 2010 he recorded for Mack Avenue Records with The Detroit Jazz Festival Orchestra's performance of "The Movement Revisited" composed and conducted by internationally renown bassist Christian McBride. He currently tours internationally with Canadian Jazz Vocalist, Sophie Milman. An avid composer and arranger, Rivera released his first album entitled Hercules in 2006 featuring all original compositions. Rivera has written arrangements for a number of events and concerts, most notably for Jazz at Lincoln Center's "Motor City Jazz" concert, a tribute to the music and musicians of Detroit. Rivera and MSU Jazz Band I under the direction of Rodney Whitaker performed Rivera's arrangement of Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" suite in 2006 at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola in New York City. Rivera's arrangements can also be heard on The Carl Allen-Rodney Whitaker Project's two releases on Mack Avenue Records entitled, Get Ready (2007) and Work To Do (2009). In 2005 Rivera was commissioned by the Center for Great Lakes Culture to compose and premiere a Jazz Suite in honor of civil rights activist Dolores Huerta. He also currently tours with his own group, The Diego Rivera Quintet, is a member of the Detroit Jazz Festival Orchestra and the MSU Professors of Jazz under the direction of Rodney Whitaker, Director of Jazz Studies at Michigan State University. Rivera has performed at The Detroit International Jazz Festival, The Festival International de Jazz de Montreal, Vancouver Jazz Festival, The Art Tatum Toldedo Jazz Festival and has been performer/clinician at the Idlewild Jazz Festival in Idlewild, MI. Rivera has also performed with Jon Hendricks, Clark Terry, Ellis Marsalis, Jon Faddis, Jimmy Cobb, The Lincoln Center Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra and the Gerald Wilson Big Band.
Diego Rivera has been called, "A vital, new voice on the saxophone." In 1999, Rivera toured nationally with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra for their Big Band '99 U.S. tour. Since, his performances have taken him throughout North America, Russia and Japan. In 2002, Rivera accepted as position as Instructor of Jazz Saxophone and Improvisation at Michigan State University. His commitment to the education of young jazz musicians resulted in his appointment as Associate Conductor of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra's Civic Jazz Ensembles. The Diego Rivera Quartet won critical acclaim having been recognized as "Best Jazz Act" by the Lansing State Journal. In 2010 he recorded for Mack Avenue Records with The Detroit Jazz Festival Orchestra's performance of "The Movement Revisited" composed and conducted by internationally renown bassist Christian McBride. He currently tours internationally with Canadian Jazz Vocalist, Sophie Milman. An avid composer and arranger, Rivera released his first album entitled Hercules in 2006 featuring all original compositions. Rivera has written arrangements for a number of events and concerts, most notably for Jazz at Lincoln Center's "Motor City Jazz" concert, a tribute to the music and musicians of Detroit. Rivera and MSU Jazz Band I under the direction of Rodney Whitaker performed Rivera's arrangement of Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" suite in 2006 at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola in New York City. Rivera's arrangements can also be heard on The Carl Allen-Rodney Whitaker Project's two releases on Mack Avenue Records entitled, Get Ready (2007) and Work To Do (2009). In 2005 Rivera was commissioned by the Center for Great Lakes Culture to compose and premiere a Jazz Suite in honor of civil rights activist Dolores Huerta. He also currently tours with his own group, The Diego Rivera Quintet, is a member of the Detroit Jazz Festival Orchestra and the MSU Professors of Jazz under the direction of Rodney Whitaker, Director of Jazz Studies at Michigan State University. Rivera has performed at The Detroit International Jazz Festival, The Festival International de Jazz de Montreal, Vancouver Jazz Festival, The Art Tatum Toldedo Jazz Festival and has been performer/clinician at the Idlewild Jazz Festival in Idlewild, MI. Rivera has also performed with Jon Hendricks, Clark Terry, Ellis Marsalis, Jon Faddis, Jimmy Cobb, The Lincoln Center Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra and the Gerald Wilson Big Band.