Riley Martin is a Chicago-based jazz guitarist whose playing is deeply rooted in the straight-ahead jazz tradition. A native of San Jose, California, Riley blends the expressive depth of swing and bebop with a rich musical background that includes classical, bossa nova, funk, hip-hop, and Motown. His first love was rock and fusion guitar, but his artistic path changed when he joined his high school jazz band and discovered the transformative power of improvisation.

Riley is the great-nephew of legendary New Orleans pianist and bandleader Walter “Fats” Pichon, whose musical legacy instilled in him a lifelong reverence for Black American music. After earning his degree in jazz studies at Roosevelt University under the mentorship of guitar master Henry Johnson, Riley continues to honor the lineage of jazz guitarists like Wes Montgomery, Kenny Burrell, and George Benson, while carving out a voice of his own.

In addition to performing, Riley is passionate about education and mentorship, viewing jazz not just as an art form but a living tradition that deserves to be preserved, studied, and passed on.

Every Tuesday and Wednesday, we present Chicago’s top jazz artists in a lively atmosphere, full of cocktail-shaking and spirited conversation.