Serving the San Francisco Bay Area New Music Community

                    
Ernesto Diaz-Infante
Composer, guitarist, improviser
François Couture, All Music Guide--"Since the mid-'90s, Ernesto Diaz-Infante counts as one of the most prolific avant-garde composer and improviser the U.S. West Coast has seen. He has performed and recorded music on piano, prepared guitar, and electronics; composed chamber music; improvised with a very large number of musicians from California, New York, and Chicago; and released a pile of CDs on very small independent labels such as Pax Recordings, Sweetstuff Media, Zzaj Productions, and Public Eyesore. His multifaceted career gives him the look of an eclectic or maverick artist, but the persistence and commanding seriousness with which he pursues his career is gaining him a small but dedicated following."

In 1997, San Francisco composer/guitarist Ernesto Diaz-Infante began the Pax Recordings record label which is dedicated to the documentation, preservation, and contagion of music from the margins of our culture and psyches. He and filmmaker Marjorie Sturm run Pax Recordings.

Ernesto Diaz-Infante has released over forty recordings on his own and others’ labels. His musical compositions span a broad perspective: transcendental piano, noise, free improvisation, avant-garde guitar, field recordings, lo-fi four-track manipulations, and experimental song. ED-I has performed throughout Europe and the United States, and his music has been broadcasted internationally. 

Born in Salinas, California, ED-I is Chicano (Mexican ancestry). He received his BA from the College of Creative Studies at University of California, Santa Barbara and his MFA in Music Composition from California Institute of the Arts, where he studied with Stephen L. Mosko and Wadada Leo Smith. Diaz-Infante co-founded the Big Sur Experimental Music Festival (1999-2004) and the San Francisco Alternative Music Festival (2000-2003). Some of his most recent works are his solo guitar compositions Bats in the Lavender Sky, Radio Broadcasts: Summer of The Arrival, 2008, Vacilando EPs on Ramble Records, Saca Los Cuernos al Sol on Headlights, For M.F. and Discipline and Denial, on Pax Recordings which was chosen as the best experimental music on Bandcamp in March of 2019. He has collaborated with Austin-based percussionist and multi-instrumentalist, Lisa Cameron on their new CD Ghosts of the JA released on Loma Editions. And on his recent travels to Paris and Lisbon ED-I recorded Puzzle with Parisian guitarist Michel Kristof and Brazilian-born percussionist Marcio Gibson which was released on Muteant Sounds. And a new solo guitar recording diciembre was released on scatterArchive on October, 8, 2023.

On January 8, 2024, ScatterArchive released For Jim Ryan, a solo guitar work dedicated to Jim Ryan; poet, writer, philosopher, and Bay Area improvising musician who passed on 27 December 2023.

On February 9, 2024, Muteant Sounds released The Escape, free form experimental guitar duets with Ezra Sturm.

On April 5, 2024, Tape Drift Records released Amor Celestial,two long solo electric/acoustic experimental ragas.

ED-I composed the music for filmmaker Marjorie Sturm’s The Cult of JT LeRoy. and many of her other works. They live in San Francisco with their son Ezra Sturm and daughter Shoshana Sturm.

"He makes a dangerous playmate" --The Wire

"A composer and performer with an instinctive way of creating sound paintings" --Josef Woodard, Los Angeles Times

"Ernesto is by now to be considered one of the most attentive, ear-opening, brain-splitting creatives in the new music scene" --Massimo Ricci, Touching Extremes.
Photo Albums (click to view photos):
Videos
An afternoon jam with Helena Espvall (cello and electronics), Ernesto Diaz-Infante (electric guitar) and Phillip Greenlief (saxophone) at Next Door to the Jefferson Airplane Studios, San Francisco, California, May 14th, 2022.
gabby fluke-mogul (violin), Chris Williams (trumpet), Ernesto Diaz-Infante (guitar) and William Alexander (drums). Bushwick, Brooklyn, New York City. October 15th, 2021.
Live at uHausen 2021: a tiny festival of esoteric music in Boulder Creek, California. August 15, 2021. Ernesto Diaz-Infante (Traveler guitar) and Ezra Sturm (Korg minilogue synthesizer).
Ernesto Diaz-Infante (11-string Godin Glissentar) at Day of Noise 2020 - KZSU Stanford 90.1 FM February 8th, 2020.
Ernesto Diaz-Infante (lap steel guitar) at Adobe Books in San Francisco, January 19th, 2019.
Bang on a Can Marathon at Yerba Buena Center for The Arts, San Francisco. February 9th 2008. Ernesto Diaz-Infante: bajo sexto Marjorie Sturm: video poem 'Sun Heals Life'.
Musician and seeker Suki O’Kane returned to Shapeshifters to enact 10,000 things, a score for durational performance, to mark the fall equinox. Ernesto Diaz-Infante (electric guitar). Shapeshifters Cinema, Oakland, California. September 22, 2022.
Ernesto Diaz-Infante (electric guitar, electronic tanpura, and singing bowl) and Marjorie Sturm (flute) at The Luggage Store Gallery, San Francisco, California, October 19th, 2022.
Ernesto Diaz-Infante (lap steel guitar) and Ezra Sturm (Korg minilogue synth) at the Luggage Store Gallery, San Francisco, October 18th, 2018.
Ernesto Diaz-Infante (bajo sexto and singing bowl) at the Luggage Store Gallery, San Francisco, February 9th, 2012.
Ernesto Diaz-Infante (acoustic guitar) at a House Party Next Door to the Jefferson Airplane Studios, San Francisco, September 17th, 2016.
Ernesto Diaz-Infante (Godin Glissentar) performing at KPFA on Frequency Modulation Radio, June 11, 2017, hosted by Thomas Dimuzio.
Ernesto Diaz-Infante (bajo sexto) at Chapel of The Chimes, Oakland, California, December 2006.
LX Rudis (electronics), Andre Custodio (electronics & percussion) & Ernesto Diaz-Infante (lap steel guitar) at The Luggage Store Gallery in San Francisco, January 17th, 2019.
Ernesto Diaz-Infante (lap steel guitar) & Rent Romus (saxophone & small instruments) at The Luggage Store Gallery in San Francisco, January 17th, 2019.
Ernesto Diaz-Infante (lap steel guitar) and Ezra Sturm (Korg minilogue synth) Winter Solstice House Party in San Francisco in December 2018.
Ernesto Diaz-Infante (bajo sexto) playing at the John Cage/CalArts event at the Walt Disney Museum in San Francisco on January 28th, 2012.
CDs on which Ernesto Diaz-Infante appears:
ArtistTitleLabelNumber
Ernesto Diaz-Infante Amor Celestial
Artist: Ernesto Diaz-Infante
Title: Amor Celestial
Label: Tape Drift Records TD123
Label page on this site: Tape Drift Records
Tape Drift Records TD123
Ezra Sturm & Ernesto Diaz-Infante The Escape
Artist: Ezra Sturm & Ernesto Diaz-Infante
Title: The Escape
Label: Muteant Sounds digital release
Label page on this site: Muteant Sounds
Muteant Sounds digital release
Ernesto Díaz-Infante for Jim Ryan
Artist: Ernesto Díaz-Infante
Title: for Jim Ryan
Label: scatterArchive digital release
Label page on this site: scatterArchive
scatterArchive digital release
Ernesto Díaz-Infante diciembre
Artist: Ernesto Díaz-Infante
Title: diciembre
Label: scatterArchive digital release
Label page on this site: scatterArchive
scatterArchive digital release
Ernesto Diaz-Infante, Marcio Gibson and Michel Kristof Puzzle
Artist: Ernesto Diaz-Infante, Marcio Gibson and Michel Kristof
Title: Puzzle
Label: Muteant Sounds digital release
Label page on this site: Muteant Sounds
Muteant Sounds digital release
The Man from Atlantis Golden Light with Kris Gruda, Heikki Ruokangas, Chris Alford, & Ernesto Diaz-Infante
Artist: The Man from Atlantis
Title: Golden Light with Kris Gruda, Heikki Ruokangas, Chris Alford, & Ernesto Diaz-Infante
Label: Ramble Records RAM-0095
Label page on this site: Ramble Records
Ramble Records RAM-0095
Lisa Cameron & Ernesto Diaz-Infante Ghosts of the JA
Artist: Lisa Cameron & Ernesto Diaz-Infante
Title: Ghosts of the JA
Label: Loma Editions LOMA007
Label page on this site: Loma Editions
Loma Editions LOMA007
Ernesto Diaz-Infante Bats in the Lavender Sky
Artist: Ernesto Diaz-Infante
Title: Bats in the Lavender Sky
Label: Ramble Records RAM-116
Label page on this site: Ramble Records
Ramble Records RAM-116
Ernesto Diaz-Infante Radio Broadcasts: Summer of The Arrival, 2008
Artist: Ernesto Diaz-Infante
Title: Radio Broadcasts: Summer of The Arrival, 2008
Label: Ramble Records RAM-111CD
Label page on this site: Ramble Records
Ramble Records RAM-111CD
Ernesto Diaz-Infante Vacilando EPs
Artist: Ernesto Diaz-Infante
Title: Vacilando EPs
Label: Ramble Records RAM-0021
Label page on this site: Ramble Records
Ramble Records RAM-0021
Ernesto Diaz-Infante Saca Los Cuernos al Sol
Artist: Ernesto Diaz-Infante
Title: Saca Los Cuernos al Sol
Label: Headlights CDH34
Label page on this site: Headlights
Headlights CDH34
Lisa Cameron & Ernesto Diaz-Infante Water is Life
Artist: Lisa Cameron & Ernesto Diaz-Infante
Title: Water is Life
Label: ruralfaune
Label page on this site: ruralfaune
ruralfaune
Ernesto Diaz-Infante Discipline and Denial
Artist: Ernesto Diaz-Infante
Title: Discipline and Denial
Label: Pax Recordings PR90292
Label page on this site: Pax Recordings
Pax Recordings PR90292
Philip Gayle BERP (featuring Ernesto Diaz-Infante)
Artist: Philip Gayle
Title: BERP (featuring Ernesto Diaz-Infante)
Label: Yabyum Productions Yabyum 006
Label page on this site: Yabyum Productions
Yabyum Productions Yabyum 006
Ernesto Diaz-Infante for M.F.
Artist: Ernesto Diaz-Infante
Title: for M.F.
Label: Pax Recordings PR90291
Label page on this site: Pax Recordings
Pax Recordings PR90291
Ernesto Diaz-Infante The Lovers Escape (Los Amantes Escapan)
Artist: Ernesto Diaz-Infante
Title: The Lovers Escape (Los Amantes Escapan)
Label: Kendra Steiner Editions KSE #387
Label page on this site: Kendra Steiner Editions
Kendra Steiner Editions KSE #387
Ernesto Diaz-Infante Manitas
Artist: Ernesto Diaz-Infante
Title: Manitas
Label: Kendra Steiner Editions KSE #372
Label page on this site: Kendra Steiner Editions
Kendra Steiner Editions KSE #372
Ernesto Diaz-Infante My Benign Swords
Artist: Ernesto Diaz-Infante
Title: My Benign Swords
Label: Public Eyesore eh?92
Label page on this site: Public Eyesore
Public Eyesore eh?92
Ernesto Diaz-Infante Tunnels
Artist: Ernesto Diaz-Infante
Title: Tunnels
Label: Kendra Steiner Editions KSE #333
Label page on this site: Kendra Steiner Editions
Kendra Steiner Editions KSE #333
Lisa Cameron & Ernesto Diaz​-​Infante Sol Et Terra
Artist: Lisa Cameron & Ernesto Diaz​-​Infante
Title: Sol Et Terra
Label: Kendra Steiner Editions KSE #299
Label page on this site: Kendra Steiner Editions
Kendra Steiner Editions KSE #299
Ernesto Diaz-Infante wistful entrance, wistful exit
Artist: Ernesto Diaz-Infante
Title: wistful entrance, wistful exit
Label: Kendra Steiner Editions KSE # 279
Label page on this site: Kendra Steiner Editions
Kendra Steiner Editions KSE # 279
Lisa Cameron, Ernesto Diaz​-​Infante, and Lee Dockery Live At the KSE Anniversary Concert
Artist: Lisa Cameron, Ernesto Diaz​-​Infante, and Lee Dockery
Title: Live At the KSE Anniversary Concert
Label: Kendra Steiner Editions KSE #255
Label page on this site: Kendra Steiner Editions
Kendra Steiner Editions KSE #255
Helena Espvall and Ernesto Diaz-Infante A Hallowed Shell of Ash and Rust
Artist: Helena Espvall and Ernesto Diaz-Infante
Title: A Hallowed Shell of Ash and Rust
Label: Erototox Decodings etd0021
Label page on this site: Erototox Decodings
Erototox Decodings etd0021
Ernesto Diaz-Infante Civilian Life
Artist: Ernesto Diaz-Infante
Title: Civilian Life
Label: Pax Recordings PR90290
Label page on this site: Pax Recordings
Pax Recordings PR90290
Ernesto Diaz-Infante Emilio
Artist: Ernesto Diaz-Infante
Title: Emilio
Label: Kendra Steiner Editions KSE #206
Label page on this site: Kendra Steiner Editions
Kendra Steiner Editions KSE #206
Rudis/Custodio/Diaz-Infante CRR Live
Artist: Rudis/Custodio/Diaz-Infante
Title: CRR Live
Label: Pax Recordings PR90268
Label page on this site: Pax Recordings
Pax Recordings PR90268
Ernesto Diaz-Infante, Manuel Mota, Gino Robair & Ernesto Rodrigues Our Faceless Empire
Artist: Ernesto Diaz-Infante, Manuel Mota, Gino Robair & Ernesto Rodrigues
Title: Our Faceless Empire
Label: Pax Recordings PR90289
Label page on this site: Pax Recordings
Pax Recordings PR90289
Reverberations From Spring Past Diaz-Infante/Fernandes/Montoya/Romus
Artist: Reverberations From Spring Past
Title: Diaz-Infante/Fernandes/Montoya/Romus
Label: Pax Recordings PR90281
Label page on this site: Pax Recordings
Pax Recordings PR90281
Voices In The Wilderness: Dissenting Soundscapes and Songs of G.W.'s America
Artist: Voices In The Wilderness:
Title: Dissenting Soundscapes and Songs of G.W.'s America
Label: Pax Recordings PR90276
Label page on this site: Pax Recordings
Pax Recordings PR90276
The Abstractions Novo Navigatio
Artist: The Abstractions
Title: Novo Navigatio
Label: Edgetone Records PR90275/EDT4027
Label page on this site: Edgetone Records
Edgetone Records PR90275/EDT4027
Dave Tucker West Coast Project Tenderloin
Artist: Dave Tucker West Coast Project
Title: Tenderloin
Label: Pax Recordings PR90264
Label page on this site: Pax Recordings
Pax Recordings PR90264
The Neshama Alma Band, with Zzaj 2 Join Occult
Artist: The Neshama Alma Band, with Zzaj
Title: 2 Join Occult
Label: Zzaj Productions ZP-76
Label page on this site: Zzaj Productions
Zzaj Productions ZP-76
muck roc
Artist: muck
Title: roc
Label: Pax Recordings PR90272
Label page on this site: Pax Recordings
Pax Recordings PR90272
Ernesto Diaz-Infante & Chris Forsyth (As Is Stated...Before Known)
Artist: Ernesto Diaz-Infante & Chris Forsyth
Title: (As Is Stated...Before Known)
Label: Pax Recordings PR90263/EE07
Label page on this site: Pax Recordings
Pax Recordings PR90263/EE07
Ernesto Diaz-Infante Next Door to the Jefferson Airplane: 341 Willard North
Artist: Ernesto Diaz-Infante
Title: Next Door to the Jefferson Airplane: 341 Willard North
Label: Imvated I-001
Label page on this site: Imvated
Imvated I-001
The Abstractions Ars Vivende
Artist: The Abstractions
Title: Ars Vivende
Label: Pax Recordings PR90260/EDT4019
Label page on this site: Pax Recordings
Pax Recordings PR90260/EDT4019
Ernesto Diaz-Infante s/t
Artist: Ernesto Diaz-Infante
Title: s/t
Label: Pax Recordings PR90259
Label page on this site: Pax Recordings
Pax Recordings PR90259
Ernesto Diaz-Infante & Matt Hannafin All the States Between
Artist: Ernesto Diaz-Infante & Matt Hannafin
Title: All the States Between
Label: Pax Recordings PR90262
Label page on this site: Pax Recordings
Pax Recordings PR90262
Bruckmann/Diaz-Infante/Shiurba/Stackpole grand mal
Artist: Bruckmann/Diaz-Infante/Shiurba/Stackpole
Title: grand mal
Label: Pax Recordings bar 1234/pax
Label page on this site: Pax Recordings
Pax Recordings bar 1234/pax
Diaz-Infante/St.Chaos/Bohol The Long Await Between Collasped Lungs
Artist: Diaz-Infante/St.Chaos/Bohol
Title: The Long Await Between Collasped Lungs
Label: Pax Recordings PR90257
Label page on this site: Pax Recordings
Pax Recordings PR90257
Ernesto Diaz-Infante & Chris Forsyth 'March'
Artist: Ernesto Diaz-Infante & Chris Forsyth
Title: 'March'
Label: Pax Recordings PR90256/EE04
Label page on this site: Pax Recordings
Pax Recordings PR90256/EE04
Rudis/Custodio/Diaz-Infante Crashing The Russian Renaissance
Artist: Rudis/Custodio/Diaz-Infante
Title: Crashing The Russian Renaissance
Label: Pax Recordings PR90253
Label page on this site: Pax Recordings
Pax Recordings PR90253
The Focus Quintet 1-8 in 1
Artist: The Focus Quintet
Title: 1-8 in 1
Label: Sachimay sca9357
Label page on this site: Sachimay
Sachimay sca9357
The Abstractions Sonic Conspiracy
Artist: The Abstractions
Title: Sonic Conspiracy
Label: Edgetone Records EDT4012
Label page on this site: Edgetone Records
Edgetone Records EDT4012
Ernesto Diaz-Infante & Bob Marsh Rags and Stones
Artist: Ernesto Diaz-Infante & Bob Marsh
Title: Rags and Stones
Label: Public Eyesore pe49
Label page on this site: Public Eyesore
Public Eyesore pe49
Ernesto Diaz-Infante & Chris Forsyth Wires and Wooden Boxes
Artist: Ernesto Diaz-Infante & Chris Forsyth
Title: Wires and Wooden Boxes
Label: Pax Recordings PR90252/EE03
Label page on this site: Pax Recordings
Pax Recordings PR90252/EE03
Ernesto Diaz-Infante Solus
Artist: Ernesto Diaz-Infante
Title: Solus
Label: Pax Recordings PR90250
Label page on this site: Pax Recordings
Pax Recordings PR90250
Jeff Kaiser and Ernesto Diaz-Infante Pith Balls and Inclined Planes
Artist: Jeff Kaiser and Ernesto Diaz-Infante
Title: Pith Balls and Inclined Planes
Label: pfMENTUM (PFMCD005)
Label page on this site: pfMENTUM
pfMENTUM (PFMCD005)
Ernesto Diaz-Infante Ucross Journal
Artist: Ernesto Diaz-Infante
Title: Ucross Journal
Label: Pax Recordings PR90249
Label page on this site: Pax Recordings
Pax Recordings PR90249
Ernesto Diaz-Infante Tepeu
Artist: Ernesto Diaz-Infante
Title: Tepeu
Label: Pax Recordings PR90247
Label page on this site: Pax Recordings
Pax Recordings PR90247
Ernesto Diaz-Infante Itz'at
Artist: Ernesto Diaz-Infante
Title: Itz'at
Label: Pax Recordings PR90245
Label page on this site: Pax Recordings
Pax Recordings PR90245
Interviews/Articles:
Ernesto Diaz-Infante: Diciembre
Fifteen Questions (10/25/2023)
Ernesto Diaz-Infante about Improvisation
Audio Samples: