Aaron Diehl

Aaron Diehl
Diehl performing at the 2019 International Jazz Festival of Punta del Este
Background information
Born
Aaron Diehl

(1985-09-22) September 22, 1985
OriginColumbus, Ohio, US
GenresJazz
OccupationPianist
Years active2007-present
LabelsMack Avenue
Websiteaarondiehl.com

Aaron Diehl (/diːl/;[1] born September 22, 1985) is an American jazz pianist and composer.

He was the 2014 Monterey Jazz Festival Commission Artist and composed Three Streams of Expression, dedicated to pianist and composer John Lewis. He was the 2013 recipient of the Jazz Journalists Association Award for Up-And-Coming Artist,[2] the 2012 Prix du Jazz Classique recipient for his album Live at the Players from the Académie du Jazz,[3] and was the winner of the 2011 Cole Porter Fellowship from the American Piano Awards.[4]

Biography

Diehl grew up in a nurturing musical environment in the King-Lincoln Bronzeville neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio. His grandfather, pianist/trombonist Arthur Baskerville, was one of his first influences. Diehl would eventually become the organist at his family's Black Catholic church, St. Dominic's.[5][6][7]

Diehl began studying classically at age 7 and discovered his passion for jazz music when attending Interlochen Summer Camp. There, he met piano prodigy Eldar Djangirov, who made a lasting impression on Diehl through his enthusiasm for Oscar Peterson and Art Tatum.[8]

In 2002, Diehl was a finalist in Jazz at Lincoln Center's Essentially Ellington competition, where he was awarded "Outstanding Soloist". The following year, he was invited to tour with the Wynton Marsalis Septet on their European tour. A 2007 graduate of the Juilliard School, he studied with Kenny Barron, Oxana Yablonskaya and Eric Reed.[9]

Diehl released his first live album in 2009, a solo concert recorded at the Caramoor Festival. In 2010, Live at the Players featured two of his trios: David Wong and Paul Sikivie (bass), and Quincy Davis and Lawrence Leathers (drums). The Bespoke Man’s Narrative (2013), Diehl's debut album on Mack Avenue Records, reached No.1 on the JazzWeek Jazz Chart[10] and is described as "honest music that invites you back in to discover new wonders with each listening."[11] Diehl's 2015 album Space, Time, Continuum featured Benny Golson and Joe Temperley.[12]

Diehl has toured with vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant.[13][14] Others he has performed with include: Warren Wolf, Lew Tabackin, Matt Wilson, Wycliffe Gordon, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and the New World Symphony.[15]

Personal life

Diehl lives in Harlem and is a licensed pilot.[16] He is a graduate of St. Charles Preparatory School.[17]

Diehl is Catholic.[18]

Discography

As leader

Year recorded Year released Title Label Notes
2008 2009 Live at Caramoor (Self-released) Solo piano; in concert[19][20]
2010 Live at The Players (Self-released) Trio, with David Wong and Paul Sikivie (bass; separately), Quincy Davis and Lawrence Leathers (drums; separately); in concert[19][20]
2013 The Bespoke Man’s Narrative Mack Avenue Some tracks trio, with David Wong (bass), Rodney Green (drums); most tracks quartet, with Warren Wolf (vibraphone) added[21]
2015 Space Time Continuum Mack Avenue Some tracks trio, with David Wong (bass), Quincy Davis (drums); some tracks quartet, with Joe Temperley (baritone sax) or Stephen Riley (tenor sax) added; some tracks quintet, with Bruce Harris (trumpet) and Benny Golson (tenor sax) added; one track sextet, with Charanee Wade (vocals), Harris, and Golson added[22]
2019 2020 The Vagabond Mack Avenue Trio, with Paul Sikivie (bass), Gregory Hutchinson (drums)[23][24]
2022 2023 Zodiac Suite Mack Avenue With David Wong (bass), Aaron Kimmel (drums), the Knights; guests Brandon Lee (trumpet), Evan Christopher (clarinet), Nicole Glover (tenor sax), Mikaela Bennett (vocals)[25][26][27]

Compilations

  • 2013 - Live From The Detroit Jazz Festival - 2013 (Mack Avenue)
  • 2014 - It's Christmas on Mack Avenue (Mack Avenue)

References

  1. ^ Jones, Peter (April 6, 2020). "Aaron Diehl: "The Vagabond"". London Jazz News. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  2. ^ Jazz Journalist Association, JJA Jazz Award:2013 JJA Jazz Award Winners Archived November 30, 2018, at the Wayback Machine 2013
  3. ^ Académie du Jazz, Palmarès 2012 Archived April 5, 2015, at the Wayback Machine 2015
  4. ^ American Pianists Association, The 2011 Jazz Fellow Archived March 10, 2015, at the Wayback Machine 2015
  5. ^ POP MUSIC & JAZZ - Rising jazz pianist on mission to educate as well as entertain September 10, 2015 | Columbus Dispatch, The (OH) Author/Byline: Kevin Joy; THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH | Page: 13F | Section: Features - Weekender 747 Words | Readability: Lexile: 1470, grade level(s): >12
  6. ^ FINDING HIS FORTE - Jazz pianist -- born and raised in Columbus -- has won high praise from critics, coveted gigs in New York October 22, 2009 | Columbus Dispatch, The (OH) Author/Byline: Kevin Joy THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH | Page: 01D | Section: Features - Life & Arts 1212 Words
  7. ^ Dispatch, Kevin Joy, The Columbus. "Rising jazz pianist on mission to educate as well as entertain". The Columbus Dispatch. Archived from the original on October 17, 2025. Retrieved October 17, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Don Williamson "Jazz Artists Interviews: Aaron Diehl" Archived July 20, 2016, at the Wayback Machine Jazz Review, 2011
  9. ^ Grant Jackson, "Aaron Diehl On Piano Jazz" NPR, 2009
  10. ^ Honcho, "April 15: Aaron Diehl is No. 1" JazzWeek, 2013
  11. ^ Tom Schnabel, "Aaron Diehl’s Superb New Album" KCRW, 2013
  12. ^ Tom Perrotta, "Aaron Diehl, a Piano Prodigy, Taps Jazz Legends" Wall Street Journal, June 10, 2015
  13. ^ "Cécile McLorin Salvant and Aaron Diehl, piano". University Musical Society. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  14. ^ "Jazz Concert Review: Cécile McLorin Salvant and Aaron Diehl - A Remarkable Collaboration - The Arts Fuse". February 8, 2020. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  15. ^ "Aaron Diehl, piano | University of Chicago Presents". chicagopresents.uchicago.edu. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  16. ^ Sasha Popov "Flying with Aaron Diehl" PopovMedia, 2014
  17. ^ Kevin Joy "Rising jazz pianist on mission to education as well as entertain" Columbus Dispatch, 2015
  18. ^ Gross, Cristofer. "Revue: Cécile McLorin Salvant". Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  19. ^ a b "Aaron Diehl: Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  20. ^ a b Panken, Ted (January 2011). "Aaron Diehl: All Gold". DownBeat. p. 22.
  21. ^ Diehl, Aaron (2015). The Bespoke Man's Narrative (CD liner notes). MAC1066.
  22. ^ Diehl, Aaron (2015). Space Time Continuum (CD liner notes). MAC1094.
  23. ^ Jurkovic, Mike (February 16, 2020). "Aaron Diehl: The Vagabond". All About Jazz. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  24. ^ Ansell, Derek (May 27, 2020). "Aaron Diehl: The Vagabond". Jazz Journal. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  25. ^ Shipton, Alyn (October 2023). "Aaron Diehl: Zodiac Suite". Jazzwise.
  26. ^ Diehl, Aaron (2023). Zodiac Suite (CD liner notes). MAC1201.
  27. ^ Walker, Gary (October 11, 2023). "'Putting the puzzle together': Aaron Diehl on Mary Lou Williams' Zodiac Suite". wbgo.org. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
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