Over the years Mission Bay High School senior, Eddie Rivera has listened to and played all kinds of music on different types of instruments. The first music he remembers hearing was that of the classical variety preferred by his parents. They also introduced him to mariachi, pop and rock.

“I started on guitar and I can also play piano, bass, drums and trumpet,” said the versatile Rivera.

The music that has captured his attention, for now at least, is the jazz that he plays as a part of Mission Bay High School’s award winning Dixie Jazz Band. In this band he capably fills the role of trumpeter.

“Eddie has been in the program for four years now. He started out with me during my first year of teaching, said energetic Mission Bay High band director, J.P. Belmat. “Eddie is phenomenal. He is a really hard worker and he has been able to work his way through the different ensembles that I have. He has risen to the top. He’s also a team player and wants everybody to succeed as part of the group. Not growing up with jazz has been a challenge for him, but he is really embracing it. He is finding himself as a musician and establishing his style.”

Rivera and his bandmates were one of about two dozen distinguished bands that came from all over the country to San Diego’s Town & Country Hotel November 25-29 for the 30th Annual SD Thanksgiving Dixieland Jazz Festival. While decades younger than their musical counterparts Belmat’s band received an equally enthusiastic response from the audience. It too was by and large much, much older.

Dixieland was born in New Orleans and first popularized by the legendary Louis Arm-strong among others. It reach-ed the height of its popularity during the 1920s and 30s, but it remains popular today at least in some circles. Rivera and others like him are on a musical mission to promote this uniquely American art form.

“We have been on the radio and on TV and we’ve performed at places like Sea World, Petco Park, the House of Blues and Dizzy’s,” Rivera said. They have also been regular participants in San Diego’s Dixieland Festival for several years. The age differential between them and their audience doesn’t seem to bother them a bit.

The quality of their sound is truly impressive considering most of them enter high school with little or no musical training. Rivera credits Belmat for inspiring him and his band-mates to reach toward becoming better musicians.

“I am happy to have a great teacher like Mr. “B.” He has a lot of passion for what he does and that is what you need to get everyone motivated. I wish everyone could have a teacher like him.”

At an age where peer pressure can be intimidating, Rivera has done the unusual in embracing a type of music that is almost unknown to his peers.

“Most of my friends listen to mainstream music which is mostly rap and hip hop. I really don’t get why none of them listen to this. It’s awesome. It makes everyone happy. It makes me happy just playing it. I don’t see myself getting rich from playing music, but I think it will always be a nice hobby and something I can enjoy everyday to relax.”