Armando Noriega Rivera “El Kennedy”

2011 SONORAN MAESTRO

Considered one of the greatest jazz teachers and personalities, Mr. Noriega was born in May 3, 1943 in Santa Ana, Sonora, Mexico. During the 1960s until 1970s he worked as a musician and played the saxophone in many orchestras, such as the Jorge Trevor’s orchestra, in Caborca, Sonora; Hermanos Rivera’s Orchestra in Magdalena; Manuel Garcia’s Orchestra in Hermosillo, and when he moved to Mexico City, he became a member of prestigious musical bands of Pablo Beltran Ruiz, Luis Alcaraz and Hector Hallal “The Arab”.

From 1965 to 1970 he worked as studio musician in recording sessions for many national and foreign artists for RCA Victor, Polidor, Televisa and TV Azteca. From 1973 to 1976 he was an arranger and producer of artists such as Jose Jose, Lupita Dalessio, Sergio Esquivel and music arranger of the OTI Festival. During those years he founded the jazz band Blue Note, visiting important stages like the Fine Arts Manuel M. Ponce Hall.

From 1976 to 1980 he worked as musician and arranger for Warner Brothers in New York City and was featured in the recording sessions of Roberta Flack, The Wonder Band and Herbie Mann. From 1980 to 1983 he directed the Jose Jose orchestra and moved to Los Angeles, California, to work for A&M Records in album productions for Maria Conchita Alonso, Vicky Carr and Lara and Monarres. From 1989 to 1993 he was arranger and musician for pop singer Yuri; from 1993 to 2011 he became a member of Wet Pain, playing with musicians like Roberto Arballo “El Betuco” and Victor Patron.

Mr. Noriega has participated in the 2008 Los Cabos jazz festival, Mexico City’s International Jazz Festival, Quintana Roo’s Riviera Maya International Festival, 2008 Alfonso Ortiz Tirado Festival, and Guanajuato’s 2009 San Miguel Allende festival.

Armando Noriega has also taken part in many projects at the University of Sonora; in Jalapa’s University of Veracruz; with Orbis Tertus band, featuring bassist Todd Holman; with Brazilian pianist Joa Henrique Almeida; with recently departed Eugenio Toussaint, Cristobal Lopez, Agustin Bernal, Pablo Prieto, and others.

Mr. Noriega has constantly supported the Rocky Point Jazz Festival, one of the oldest in Northwestern Mexico. He currently resides in that city.