San Juan Jazz Hero
Puerto Rico
Percussionist and educator David Rivera is one of the musicians with the most experience and music knowledge in Puerto Rico. He studied at the Music Conservatory of Puerto Rico and Universidad Interamericana and has worked with the best musicians and ensembles here, including José Negroni, Batacumbele, Vicentico Valdés, Sinfónica de Puerto Rico, Orquesta Arturo Somohano, the Mandy Vizoso, Pedro Rivera Toledo, Cuco Peña, Panamericana Orchestra, University of Miami, Cesar Concepción, William Cepeda, Luís Espindola and Jesús Caunedo, among the jazziest of them. He’s performed at the Puerto Rico Heineken Jazz Fest, with Tropical People in 1991 and 1994, and with Denis Mario y Kobana Negra in 2009.
But even with his vast experience as a professional musician, Rivera is more than anything a consummate and highly dedicated educator. Since the 1980s, he’s taught at the Music Conservatory of Puerto Rico, Universidad Interamericana, Universidad de Puerto Rico and Escuela Libre de Música Ernesto Ramos Antonini, San Juan.
The successes of many of his students as music professionals testify to his effectiveness. Since 2015, Rivera has directed the Escuela Libre students’ ELMERA Jazz Ensemble. There was no jazz education program when he started there, but at the 2021 National Jazz Festival Competition, Philadelphia ELMERA received first place standing as a group, and was recognized for three Outstanding Musicians: Yomar Ramirez, percussion and vibraphone; Sofia Ramos, bass, and Fabiola Muñoz, cuatro.
That was Fabiola’s third win as Outstanding musician — she is now playing in Oscar Hernández’s Spanish Harlem Orchestra. And in 2021 Rivera himself was honored as Teacher of the Year.
No one in recent memory has done more for jazz education in Puerto Rico. Currently at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras, Jazz Hero David Rivera is still educating the next generation jazz masters.
— Wilbert Sostre
author of Boricua Jazz, radio host at Jazzeando & Puerto Rico Jazz
