BIO

Diego Ramirez is a Mexican jazz pianist and composer, who has been extremely busy and prolific these past recent years.

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While studying composition for orchestra and big band, he composed his first wondcerful original orchestral piece entitled "Tenochtitlan" (https://youtu.be/XZSx3p0am-0). 

This was followed by another beautiful piece entitled “Cuahtlahuac.”  

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Diego then wrote a big band score for his original composition "Pa'ax", named after his daughter and performed live in  both Mexico City (https://youtu.be/-QRnlEiwy5E) and Oakland.  

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In 2022, he wrote a film score, submitted for the short film, "The Foundling" (https://youtu.be/_DlxAMjrx_k.)

Other recent original compositions, available in both CD and vinyl, are entitled “Sketches of Mexico”.  Described as musical      paintings of Mexico, the album represents the richness and variety of Mexico's culture, as Diego combines traditional jazz with Mexican melodies, harmonies and rhythms.  For this album Diego was honored with two nominations from the Independent Music Awards, one for Best Jazz Instrumental Album and the other for Best Tribute Album.   ​

(https://diegoramirez.hearnow.com/sketches-of-mexico).  

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Another original piano CD by Diego called "El Ultima Chilam Balam" was named Best Jazz Album by the LA Music Awards, and it featured his Mayan jazz pieces.

Diego has also released other recordings featuring classic piano jazz, "Jazzonia" and "Ramirez Plays Legrand", as well as several albums with his musical partner, the talented vocalist Daline Jones.   

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Diego has vast performing experience in jazz festivals (Portland Jazz Festival, LigaMAC, San Jose Jazz Weekend, Playa del Carmen Concert, LifeLuxeJazz, headlining in Mexico City's Zinco with Daline Jones); international tours; jazz clubs throughout the States, Europe and Mexico; as well as in restaurants, hotels, and local gigs in his hometown, Los Cabos (where he also teaches music at Baldor and composed their school anthem).  A memorable jam session of Diego on piano with Stevie Wonder performing "Overjoyed" at Cabo's jazz club, Jazz On the Rocks, can be seen on YouTube. (https://youtu.be/TXi3Peuw_Ag.)

​Diego studied classical music at Mexico City's prestigious National Conservatory of Music for 10 years before branching out into jazz.  Diego’s piano and classical music teachers include Maestra Irina Lieberman from Czechoslovakia, Maestros Jose Luis Arcaraz, Guillermo Salvador, Christina de la Vega, Adrian Grand and jazz/harmony with Juan Millan. Diego's music and compositions are influenced by his admiration for Mexican classical composers Silvestre Revueltas, Manuel M. Ponce, and Carlos Chavez.  He was also influenced by improvisational musicians such as Miles Davis and by Leonard Bernstein.