Pianist, composer, and popular sideman Javier Santiago is one of the most promising voices in the international music scene today. As an accomplished producer/beatmaker, arranger and educator, Santiago has become a notable force in both the beat and hip-hop scenes as well as in the jazz world.

The Minneapolis-born Santiago was exposed to a myriad of great music and talented musicians in his early years. Taking his inspiration and career endeavors to the next level, he furthered his path by relocating to New York City to attend The New School for Jazz & Contemporary Music, then later moved out West, first to the Bay Area in 2017, and then to Los Angeles in 2021, which remains his home base. Santiago is an alumnus of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at UCLA and The Brubeck Institute Fellowship Program. He was a finalist in the American Jazz Pianist competition in 2015, a recipient of the 2016 McKnight Fellowship for Musicians, and was selected to participate in the 14th Annual Betty Carter Jazz Ahead program in 2011.

Javier Santiago has had the distinguished opportunity to play with many celebrated musicians on today’s jazz scene including Herbie Hancock, Terrace Martin, Louis Cole, Alex Isley, Jonathan Kreisberg, Braxton Cook, Kassa Overall, Azar Lawrence, Kenneth Whalum, Aja Monet, John Raymond, Sheila Jordan, and Yosvany Terry. He is based in Los Angeles, CA.

photo by Keshia Eugene