Javier Diaz
Percussion
(860) 486-5049
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Javier Diaz, a native of Cuba, is a percussionist with the American Symphony Orchestra and with several chamber music groups and Latin Jazz Bands in the New York Area. He has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, New York Chamber Symphony, New Jersey Symphony, New York Perspectives Ensemble, Zankel Hall New Music Band, Hilliard Ensemble, Broadway's productions of Man of La Mancha, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Brooklyn, Tarzan, Guys and Dolls, The Wiz, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown and The Lion King. His studio credits include ECM's Tituli by Stephen Hartke with the Hilliard Ensemble, award- winning films such as Tango Flush and Jesus Camp, several HBO films, Jodie Foster’s The Beaver and many TV and radio commercials.
As an Afro-Cuban percussion specialist Diaz has appeared with: Sean Kingston, Diana Ross, Gladys Knight, Shaka Kan, Patty LaBelle, Lazaro Galarraga's Afro-Cuban All Stars, percussionists Angel Luis Figueroa, Candido Camero, Rom·n Diaz and Pedro Martinez, The Panamerican Jazz Band, The Ethnix, Anette Aguilar’s Latin Jazz Group, Marta Topferova, Edmar CastaÒeda and the New York World Music Institute. He is currently a member and co-director of the world music group Tribal Sage, a collaborative effort with fellow percussionist Roger Squitero.
An active educator Diaz has taught classical percussion at El Sistema de Orquestas Juveniles e Infantiles de Venezuela and at his private studio in New York City. He has also taught Afro-Cuban percussion seminars, classes and clinics at the Peabody Institute, University of Southern California, Percussion Artists Workshops Los Angeles/New York, Los Angeles School District, The Juilliard School, the Boston Conservatory and Mannes School of Music in New York City. Diaz currently teaches the Afro-Latin percussion survey at the Juilliard School and directs the Afro-Cuban Ensemble at Rutgers University. His most recent book on Afro-Cuban percussion, The Afro-Cuban Handbook, has become an instant classic of the percussion literature.
As a composer, Diaz has been commissioned by the Aspen Music Festival, New York University and University of Southern California. His classical music is currently available through Bachovich Music.
An alumnus of El Sistema de Orquestas Juveniles e Infantiles de Venezuela and the Aspen Music Festival, Mr. Diaz holds a BM from the University of Southern California and a MM from The Juilliard School.