About Richard Peña

"Peña is a talented and driven artist with a unique sound. In particular, he is an excellent guitarist with a truly one-of-a-kind style which transcends genre boundaries and definitions."
— Jazz Corner Magazine

Guitarist, composer, and educator Richard Peña is a rising force in Latin jazz, blending Afro-Caribbean traditions with modern jazz innovation. Named Youth Jazz Ambassador by the Humacao Friends of Jazz Association, Peña has performed internationally as a bandleader and alongside Grammy-winning artists such as Horacio "El Negro" Hernández, Dafnis Prieto, Henry Cole, Richie Flores, Charlie Sepúlveda, Carlos Vives, and Victor Manuelle.

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Peña began his recording career at just 15 years old as a bassist for the Guess Who Jazz Quartet, releasing Ready For Departure (2014), which won Best New Production at the Fox Music USA Latin Music Awards. That same year, he shifted his focus to jazz guitar, leading a group that represented Puerto Rico at the Berklee High School Jazz Festival, where they won Best Group.

Peña studied jazz guitar at the Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico under the guidance of Fernando Mattina and has taken masterclasses with acclaimed musicians such as Miguel Zenón, David Sánchez, Vic Juris, Rodney Jones, and Barry Greene. His playing, rooted in both tradition and innovation, reflects a deep understanding of jazz harmony, phrasing, and Afro-Caribbean rhythmic concepts.

His discography showcases his evolution as an artist. His debut album, Hey, Don Rey! (2018), earned critical acclaim, with the track Passageways receiving a nomination for Best Funk/Fusion/Jam Song at the 18th Independent Music Awards (IMA). He followed with Aguinaldo Jíbaro (2019), a jazz guitar trio reinterpretation of Puerto Rican classics, recognized among the Best 20 Albums of 2019 by the National Foundation for Popular Culture. Synergy (2020), blending post-bop, fusion, and Puerto Rican jazz elements, was nominated for Best Jazz Instrumental Album at the IMAs. His 2020 release, Pandemik, created in collaboration with the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture and the National Endowment for the Arts, was praised for its artistic and emotional depth in response to the global crisis.

Beyond performing, Peña is a dedicated educator, creating high-quality jazz guitar content for over 260,000 followers across social platforms and teaching more than 2,000 students through Patreon. His work continues to bridge tradition and innovation, inspiring a new generation of jazz musicians.