Gustavo Cortiñas was born in Mexico, but he's made a home for himself in Chicago. His childhood home was filled with books courtesy of his parents, both educators, and exposed him to a myriad of texts ranging from philosophy, religion, art, and more. He had access to a variety of music as well, which he has incorporated into his work as a drummer.

He studied at Loyola University in New Orleans (BM Jazz, Minor in Philosophy), and Northwestern University (MM Jazz) in Chicago. His multicultural approach has found him releasing several albums as a leader and working with artists like Chuchito Valdés, Roy McGrath, Emily Kuhn, and many others. Fully embracing his adopted city, Cortiñas is a member of the Chicago Jazz Composer's Collective.

Modern Drummer hailed as "Cortiñas a highly musical and grooving drummer, as well as a  laudable composer... his music is surprisingly danceable...groove-shifter, high-energy precision soloing, framed by vivid ideas. A joyful meeting of mind and spirit."

In his work, he's not afraid to be topical. His 2021 album, Desafío Candente, explored the challenges of Latin American life. With his latest (and sixth as a leader), he tackles climate change.  Released on his own label, named after the aforementioned album, this quartet recording features Mark Feldman on violin, Jon Irabagon on tenor sax, and Dave Miller on guitar. DownBeat calls The Crisis Knows No Borders, "gripping… impactful music, marked with all the sorrow, strife, confusion, anger and bits of joy…" The music veers from plaintive to driving, with grooves and moves appropriate to a musician as gifted and thoughtful as Gustavo Cortiñas.