Draft:Jan Rivera
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| Submission declined on 29 July 2025 by RangersRus (talk). This submission's references do not show that the subject qualifies for a Wikipedia article—that is, they do not show significant coverage (not just passing mentions) about the subject in published, reliable, secondary sources that are independent of the subject (see the guidelines on the notability of people). Before any resubmission, additional references meeting these criteria should be added (see technical help and learn about mistakes to avoid when addressing this issue). If no additional references exist, the subject is not suitable for Wikipedia. This submission's references do not show that the subject qualifies for a Wikipedia article—that is, they do not show significant coverage (not just passing mentions) about the subject in published, reliable, secondary sources that are independent of the subject (see the guidelines on the notability of music-related topics). Before any resubmission, additional references meeting these criteria should be added (see technical help and learn about mistakes to avoid when addressing this issue). If no additional references exist, the subject is not suitable for Wikipedia.
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Comment: You have not carried out updates on this draft based on the previous reason for decline. Joãohola 22:19, 22 July 2025 (UTC)
Jan Rivera | |
|---|---|
 Jan Rivera performing live in 2024 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Mayagüez, Puerto Rico |
| Genres | Progressive rock, Jazz fusion |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, Composer, Author |
| Instrument | Guitar |
| Years active | 2010s–present |
| Website | janrivera |
Jan Rivera is a guitarist, composer, and author, born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico.[1] He is a guitarist and composer whose work incorporates complex rhythmic structures and elements of progressive rock and jazz fusion. Rivera has collaborated with musicians including Grammy-winning keyboardist Jordan Rudess, Marco Minnemann, Mohini Dey, and Nili Brosh. His debut album, Existential Paranoia, was covered in publications such as Guitar World[2], PROG Magazine[3][4], and Bass Magazine.[5]
Early life and education
[edit]Jan Rivera was born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, where his early musical exposure came through family gatherings centered around guitar playing.[6] He earned degrees in classical guitar from the Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico, San Germán,[7] before shifting his focus to contemporary styles influenced by players like Joe Satriani and Steve Vai.[8]
He later moved to Los Angeles, where he immersed himself in the fusion and progressive scene—studying under Alex Machacek and Scott Henderson at the Musicians Institute’s Guitar Institute of Technology (GIT), and taking private lessons with Greg Howe. During this period, he also served as a teaching assistant at GIT.[7]
Career
[edit]Music and recordings
[edit]Rivera released his debut solo album Existential Paranoia on October 14, 2022.[9] The album features collaborators including Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater), Marco Minnemann (The Aristocrats), Mohini Dey (Willow Smith, A.R. Rahman, Guthrie Govan), Nili Brosh (Danny Elfman, Dethklok), Chad Wackerman (Frank Zappa), Gary Husband (John McLaughlin), Jimmy Johnson (Allan Holdsworth), and Chris Clark (Virgil Donati Band), along with Juan Antonio (Sublimation), Eli Markus (Nili Brosh band), and Mark Hartsuch (MaMoGi).[10][11]
The album incorporates elements of progressive rock, jazz fusion, and orchestral textures.[2][12] It was mixed and mastered by T. J. Helmerich,[13] known for his work with Jeff Beck, Zappa Plays Zappa (Grammy-nominated), Tribal Tech, Frank Gambale, and Vital Tech Tones.[14][15]
Author, clinician, and educator
[edit]Rivera is the author of Advanced Rhythmic Concepts for Guitar, a book that explores polyrhythms, metric modulations, polymeters, and complex rhythmic structures. The book has been reviewed by musicians including Ben Monder, Gustavo Assis-Brasil, and Dean Brown (guitarist), and has been covered in publications such as JazzTimes and Vintage Guitar.[16][17] It has been published in both English and Spanish,[18] is used in university curricula, and has been cited in books internationally.[19]
Rivera has presented clinics and masterclasses at Sweetwater[20], Musicians Institute (Hollywood)[21], MI Tokyo[22][23], and Tokyo School of Music.[24] He has also contributed curriculum design and educational content for Fender Guitars through their Fender Play platform.[7][25]
Notable collaborations
[edit]Jordan Rudess – keyboards (Dream Theater)
Marco Minnemann – drums (The Aristocrats, Steven Wilson)
Mohini Dey – bass (Willow Smith, A.R. Rahman, Guthrie Govan)
Nili Brosh – guitar (Danny Elfman, Dethklok)
Chad Wackerman – drums (Frank Zappa)
Gary Husband – piano (John McLaughlin)[26]
Jimmy Johnson (bassist) – bass (Allan Holdsworth)
Gino Banks – drums (Dave Holland, Chris Potter, Zakir Hussain, MaMoGi)[27][28][29]
Chris Clark – piano (Virgil Donati Band)
Juan Antonio – guitar (Sublimation)
Eli Marcus – bass (Nili Brosh band, Lee Ritenour, Steve Vai, Jeff Lorber)
Mark Hartsuch – saxophone (MaMoGi)
Reception and commentary
[edit]Rivera's album Existential Paranoia has been featured in publications including Guitar World[2], PROG Magazine[3], and Bass Magazine.[5] The following are selected statements from collaborators who appeared on the album:
Mohini Dey: “My reaction was surprised, shocked… Because I heard how challenging the material was but also at the same time, how beautiful the writing was. … When I hear something that has never been done before, it automatically pushes me to do something better.”[2]
Jordan Rudess: “When I first heard Jan Rivera's music, I was freaking out! … I get asked to do a lot of projects. I have to say that many of them are really good, but it's not very often that you find a unique compositional voice.”[5][30]
Nili Brosh: “He brings to the table, only the freshest concepts. And again, like, kind of, beyond everyone and above everybody's head; all the crazy rhythmic stuff that he comes up with...”[31]
Discography
[edit]Existential Paranoia (2022)[32]
Publications
[edit]Advanced Rhythmic Concepts for Guitar (2014)[33]
External links
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Biography". Jan Rivera Official Site. Retrieved 2025-07-14.
- ^ a b c d "Jan Rivera Existential Paranoia Playthrough". Guitar World. 17 October 2022. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
- ^ a b "Prog guitarist Jan Rivera shares video for debut single". PROG Magazine. 28 June 2022. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
- ^ Weller, Phil (2023). "Limelight: Jan Rivera". PROG Magazine. No. 139. Future Publishing. p. 21.
- ^ a b c "Jan Rivera releases new video with Mohini Dey, Jordan Rudess, Marco Minnemann". Bass Magazine. December 2022. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
- ^ "Biography". Jan Rivera Official Site. Retrieved 2025-07-14.
- ^ a b c "Jan Rivera Profile". All About Jazz. 4 September 2022. Retrieved 2025-07-14.
- ^ Weller, Phil (2023). "Limelight: Jan Rivera". PROG Magazine. No. 139. Future Publishing. p. 21.
- ^ "Existential Paranoia". Bandcamp. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
- ^ Weller, Phil (2023). "Limelight: Jan Rivera". PROG Magazine. No. 139. Future Publishing. p. 21.
- ^ "Existential Paranoia". Bandcamp. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
- ^ Weller, Phil (2023). "Limelight: Jan Rivera". PROG Magazine. No. 139. Future Publishing. p. 21.
- ^ "Existential Paranoia". Bandcamp. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
- ^ "TJ Helmerich Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
- ^ "TJ Helmerich Discography". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
- ^ "Advanced Rhythmic Concepts for Guitar by Jan Rivera". JazzTimes. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
- ^ "Advanced Rhythmic Concepts for Guitar". Vintage Guitar Magazine. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
- ^ Rivera, Jan (11 August 2018). Conceptos Rítmicos Avanzados para Guitarra. Violet Anamnesis Publications. ISBN 978-1944213411.
- ^ de Waal, André (November 2022). "Paranoia uit Puerto Rico". iO Pages (in Dutch). No. 181. pp. 56–57.
- ^ "Jan Rivera Guitar Masterclass: Advanced Rhythms for Composition". Universe.com. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
- ^ "Jan Rivera at Musicians Institute Hollywood". Instagram. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
- ^ "MI Tokyo clinic featuring Jan Rivera". ESP Musician Institute Tokyo. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
- ^ "Jan Rivera MI Tokyo clinic post". Instagram. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
- ^ "Jan Rivera signs 30th Anniversary banner, inducted on MI Tokyo wall". Instagram. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
- ^ "Meet Jan Rivera: Musician, Author, Founder, On-Set Consultant, Curriculum Designer". Shoutout LA. 2023-06-20. Retrieved 2025-07-14.
- ^ "Performances & Collaborations". GaryHusband.com. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
- ^ "Jan Rivera, Gino Banks, and Mohini Dey – Sweetwater Studios rehearsal p.1 (2024)". Wikimedia Commons. 18 January 2024. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
- ^ "Jan Rivera, Gino Banks, and Mohini Dey – Sweetwater Studios rehearsal p.2 (2024)". Wikimedia Commons. 18 January 2024. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
- ^ "Jan Rivera, Mohini Dey, and Gino Banks – Live at Alvas Showroom". Alvas Showroom. 18 August 2023. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
- ^ Jan Rivera. Jan Rivera Interview with Jordan Rudess (Part 1 of 2). YouTube. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
- ^ Jan Rivera. Nili Brosh Interview: Jan Rivera's Existential Paranoia. YouTube. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
- ^ "Jan Rivera – Existential Paranoia". Discogs. 14 October 2022. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
- ^ Rivera, Jan (8 April 2014). Advanced Rhythmic Concepts for Guitar. Violet Anamnesis Publications. ISBN 978-0615979830.
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Category:Living people Category:Progressive rock guitarists Category:Jazz fusion guitarists Category:Puerto Rican guitarists Category:Year of birth missing (living people)