Nelson Briceño Peraza (1996) is a Costa Rican drummer, percussionist, and teacher based in Switzerland. Deeply rooted in his folk music traditions, he blends these influences with Afro-Latin American rhythms, jazz, and other diasporic musical traditions.
Briceño began his musical journey at age seven under his father’s guidance, later earning a summa cum laude degree in Percussion from the Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica (UNA) in 2021. He holds a Master’s in Jazz Performance from Jazzcampus Basel (FHNW) and currently teaches Drumset Jazz/Pop and Latin Percussion at the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg, Germany.
As an active performer, Briceño moves fluidly between folk, jazz, classical, and contemporary styles. His diverse musical background, combined with extensive touring across Europe; North, Central, and South America, has allowed him to explore and connect with different cultures and traditions. He has collaborated with artists including Benny Sharoni, Nicole Johänntgen, Lele Gorri, Manfred Junker, and Thomas Bauser, and studied with mentors such as Jeff Ballard, Jorge Rossy, Larry Grenadier, Chris Cheek, and Arthur Hnatek, further shaping his artistic approach.
Beyond performing and teaching, Briceño is engaged in artistic research. His current work explores the African rhythmic influence in Costa Rican folk music, as well as the historical evolution of the drumset in Costa Rica—research that directly informs and enriches his compositional work.
Nelson Briceño proudly endorses Canopus Drums
Nelson Briceño 