Born in Buenos Aires in 1967. Pianist, teacher, and composer, Ríos began playing classical music, only to turn in 1985 to popular music, and in particular to improvisation and jazz with the intent to deepen the investigation of improvisation within Argentine and Latin American popular music.

Between 1985 and 1992 creates and consolidates different musical projects.

In 1993, he created EL TERCETO, with whom he has embarked upon a free, improvisatory musical language based in a repertoire of popular music, experimenting with different Latin American rhythms. Owners of a unique and original concept, they are a landmark in Argentine music. They embark from a point of freedom in an improvisatory musical language based in a repertoire of popular and folkloric music, experimenting with various Argentine and Latin American rhythms. They have managed to create their own sound, which is difficult to classify: jazz, tango, and folkloric music all live together in a unique musical combination. EL TERCETO was originally a piano- bass- drums and voices acoustic jazz and actually they added the marimba and percussion. This work can be heard in their wide discography. He played with EL TERCETO in the most important places in Buenos Aires and the rest of Argentina, radio and TV shows and made many international tours (Mexico, United States, Paraguay). (go to: Discography – International Tours – Concerts in Argentina – Press).

As a soloist, his personal style was consolidated in the latest years, making a great opening as he incorporated the percussion and the voice improving his musical proposal. He played in the most important places in Buenos Aires and the rest of Argentina, radio and TV shows and made many international tours. He also performs with important musicians. (go to: Discography – International Tours – Concerts in Argentina – Press).

Since 1988, he has also been advancing an intense effort as a teacher, giving private lessons in piano, improvisation, music theory and composition, and also offering group workshops in musical improvisation for musicians of all kinds. He created these musical improvisation workshops in 1997 and they work without interruption up to now in his particular studio, in the tours he undertakes and as obligatory course in the Instrument’s Career of the “Conservatorio Provincial Julián Aguirre”. (go to teaching development)

He is currently at work finishing a book that details his personal pedagogical approach to musical improvisation.

Personal discography

1) (1997) “TIERRA IMPROVISADA” EL TERCETO. This record receives wide acclaim from press and public and is considered one of the best records of the year. (go to Press)

2) (1999) “MENOS ES MAS” EL TERCETO. This record is also elected as one of the best records of the year. (go to Press)

3) (2000) “TOCATANGó” EL TERCETO. They play only tangos and milonga repertoire and have received excellent reception from the and audience. (go to Press).

4) (2001) “VOLVIENDO DESDE MI” (“Returning from myself”), Hernan Rios, solo piano album in which he has deepened his vision of Argentine and Latin American music through improvisation.

5) (2003) “IMPROVISACIONES” Hernan Rios, an album of free improvisations for two pianos recorded with Uruguayan pianist Leo Masliah.

6) (2003) “PIEDRA Y CAMINO” EL TERCETO. This album was recorded with
a new instrumentation: piano, marimba, percussion, drumset, and voices.
This production makes a great opening in the groups’ message and
enjoyed enthusiastic responses from the press and audiences alike.
(go to press).

Concerts in Argentina

· “El Terceto en Oliverio Allways” (1996 to 1998, Buenos Aires). (Raúl Carnota y Verónica Condomí participated as special guests).
· “Joe Zawuinul Sindicate”, opening concert (1998) in La Trastienda, Buenos Aires.
· “Festival de Jazz de Rosario” (1998), closing concert, Rosario, Argentina.
· “Buenos Aires Experimenta 1999”, in the Teatro Sarmiento, Buenos Aires.
· Ciclo “Locos por el piano” (2000) Hernán Ríos with the pianist Lilián Saba (with important guests musicians). Paseo La Plaza y C.Cult. Borges, Buenos Aires.
· Festival “Buenos Aires Tango” (2001), in the Club del Vino, Buenos Aires.
· Festival “Buenos Aires jazz y otras músicas” (2002), in the Sala A – B from C.Cult.Gral. San Martín, Buenos Aires.
· Festival “Buenos Aires jazz y otras músicas” (2003) Piano duet with Leo Maslíah in the Sala A – B, C.Cult. Gral. San Martín, Buenos Aires.
· Festival “Buenos Aires jazz y otras músicas” (2004) in the C.Cult.Dorrego, Buenos Aires.
· “Ciclo Músicas de Provincia”, C.C.Julián Centeya (may 2005, Buenos Aires).
· “Ciclo Talentos Argentinos”, Teatro Municipal, Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires (november 2005).
· Concerts in the interior of Argentina (Mar del Plata, Córdoba, Rosario, Jujuy, Bahía Blanca, San Luis, Entre Ríos).

Festival and Internacional tours:

· “Festival Internacional de los Siete Lagos” (Bariloche – San Martín de los Andes, Argentina, october 2000) performing sharing the programme with Dave Holland, Dino Saluzzi, Michael Brecker, Trío Fatorusso, Leny Andrade, Diane Schuur, John Pattitucci, Chucho Valdés, Lito Epumer, Javier Malosetti y Luis Salinas, among others.
· Estados Unidos (2001) “Semana Argentina en Aspen” (Colorado, Estados Unidos) making two concerts in this city.
· Paraguay (2001) “4º Festival Internacional de Jazz de Asunción” (Asunción, Paraguay) closing concert.
· México (marzo 2002) invited by Alianza Francesa, they played 10 concerts in 8 cities (Querétaro, San Miguel de Allende, Saltillo, Piedras Negras, Hermosillo, Los Cabos, La Paz and Distrito Federal).
· México (agosto 2003) soloist tour, invited by the Escuela Nacional de Música de la UNAM (Universidad Autónoma de México,) to lead improvisation workshops within the “IV Fourth Latin American Encounter for Music Education”. During the same tour, he gave solo piano concerts and improvisation workshops in Hermosillo (Sonora State), and the Escuela Superior de Música de Saltillo (Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila) .
· Mexico (may and june, 2004), with EL TERCETO. They make a new tour in México presenting their latest album (“Piedra y camino”) and playing duet concerts and musical improvisation and rhythm workshops in Guadalajara, Monterrey (Escuela Superior de Música y Danzas), San Luis Potosí and Hermosillo.
· Concert in the “Centro de las Artes” (Monterrey, México, 26/2/2005) with Omar Tamez and Emilio Tamez.
· “III Encuentro Internacional de Jazz y Música Viva Monterrey 2005” between March 1º and 5th, 2005. He performs with Sonny Fortune (EE.UU.), Rashied Ali (EE.UU.), Jonathan Golove (EE.UU.), Ramón Lopez (España), André Jaume (Francia), Rémi Charmasson (Francia), Félix Petry (Alemania), David Hevia (México), Teresita de Jesús Soto (México), Omar Tamez (México), Emilio Tamez (México), Marcos Miranda (México), Indran Amirthanayagam (Sri Lanka-EE.UU.).
· “III Festival del Día Internacional de la Música” Hermosillo (Sonora, México) from june 20th to 24th, 2005. Solo piano and percusión concerts in the Plaza Central of Casa de Cultura, Sonora on de june 23rd, 2005 (guests musicians: Oscar Mayoral – flute and David Norzagharay - percussion).

Teaching development

· Primer Seminario Latinoamericano de Educación Musical, 1999 (FLADEM - Foro latinoamericano de Educación Musical) presenting the “MUSICAL IMPROVISATION WORKSHOP”.
· “IV Fourth Latin American Encounter for Music Education”, 2003 (Escuela Superior de Música de la UNAM, Distrito Federal, México) presenting the “MUSICAL IMPROVISATION WORKSHOP”.
· “MUSICAL IMPROVISATION WORKSHOP” - Hernán Ríos (Mexico 2003):
- Escuela Superior de Música de Saltillo (Coahuila, México)
- “Luna Dance”, Hermosillo (Sonora, México)
· “MUSICAL IMPROVISATION WORKSHOP” - Hernán Ríos (Mexico 2004):
- Escuela Superior de Música y Danzas de Monterrey, 2004 (Nuevo León, México)
- “Luna Dance”, Hermosillo, 2004 (Sonora, México)
- C.Cult. Cantigas y Alianza Francesa de San Luis Potosí, 2004 (México)
- C. Cult. “Puerta 22”, Guadalajara, 2004 (México)
· In september, 2004 is called by el Conservatorio Provincial Julián Aguirre (oficial conservatory, Buenos Aires, Argentina) and is desgined titular teacher by concourse of the course “Técnicas de improvisación” (“Improvisation techniques”).
· “MUSICAL IMPROVISATION WORKSHOP” – Master class in the programme of the “III Encuentro Internacional de Jazz y Música Viva Monterrey 2005” (Mexico – march 2nd, 2005).
· “Musical improvisation workshop” in “Músicas de provincia” (mayo 2005).
· “Musical improvisation workshop” in the “III Festival del Día Internacional de la Música in Hermosillo (Sonora, México) june 20-21-22, 2005.
· “Musical improvisation workshop” in “Talentos argentinos” (Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires (november, 2005).
· Individual private lessons (since 1988 without interruption) in piano, improvisation, music theory and composition, for all musicians.
· Musical improvisation workshops for musicians of all kinds (since 1997 without interruption up to now) in his private studio.

New projects

· NEW DVD “EL TERCETO EN VIVO” in the first half of 2006, with repertoire from the former EL TERCETO’S 4 albums and new material with the different instrumentations (piano, drums, percussion, bass and voices). It will also appear as CD album too.
· He is are planning several tours (alone and with EL TERCETO) for 2006: Europe, Mexico, South Africa and United States.
· Recording of new material: Latin American music and Mingus’, Ellington’s y Monk’s music (with EL TERCETO).
· Re-edition of “TIERRA IMPROVISADA” in may, 2006.
· He is preparing the recording of two soloist albums: one playing piano and percussion (jazz, Latin American music and original compositions) and the other one improvising on classical and contemporary music.
· He is currently at work finishing a book that details his personal pedagogical approach to musical improvisation.
· Edition of a DVD that shows the work of the musical improvisation workshops.