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Aaron Diehl
Aaron Diehl, piano @ 23rd Festival Internacional de Jazz de Punta del Este - 190106-1000961-jikatu.jpg
Diehl performing at the 2019 International Jazz Festival of Punta del Este
Background information
Birth name Aaron Diehl
Born (1985-09-22) September 22, 1985 (age 39)
Origin Columbus, Ohio, US
Genres Jazz
Occupation(s) Pianist
Years active 2007-present
Labels Mack Avenue

Aaron Diehl (born September 22, 1985) is an American jazz pianist and composer. A composer writes music, and a pianist plays the piano.

Aaron Diehl has won many awards for his music. In 2014, he was the main artist for the Monterey Jazz Festival. He wrote a special piece of music called Three Streams of Expression for another famous pianist, John Lewis. He also won the Jazz Journalists Association Award in 2013 for being an exciting new artist. His album Live at the Players won an award from the Académie du Jazz in 2012. In 2011, he won the Cole Porter Fellowship, a big award for piano players.

About His Life

Aaron grew up in a family that loved music. His grandfather, Arthur Baskerville, was a pianist and trombonist. He was one of Aaron's first musical inspirations. Aaron later became the pianist at his family's church.

He started learning classical piano when he was 7 years old. He found his love for jazz music at the Interlochen Center for the Arts Summer Camp. This is a special camp for young artists. There, he met another amazing piano player, Eldar Djangirov. Eldar's excitement for jazz legends like Oscar Peterson and Art Tatum really inspired Aaron.

In 2002, Aaron was a finalist in a big competition called Essentially Ellington at Jazz at Lincoln Center. He won an award for being an "Outstanding Soloist." The next year, he was invited to tour Europe with the famous jazz musician Wynton Marsalis and his band. Aaron graduated from the Juilliard School in 2007. This is a very famous music school in New York City. He studied with great teachers like Kenny Barron there.

Aaron released his first live album in 2009. It was a solo piano concert. In 2010, his album Live at the Players came out. It featured two of his trios, which are groups of three musicians. His album The Bespoke Man’s Narrative came out in 2013. It reached number one on the JazzWeek Jazz Chart. People said it was "honest music" that you would want to listen to again and again. In 2015, Aaron released Space, Time, Continuum. This album featured famous jazz musicians like Benny Golson and Joe Temperley.

Aaron has toured and performed with many talented musicians. He has played with the singer Cécile McLorin Salvant. He has also performed with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and the New World Symphony.

Personal Life

Aaron Diehl lives in Harlem, a neighborhood in New York City. He is also a licensed pilot, which means he can fly airplanes! He went to St. Charles Preparatory School. Aaron is Catholic.

Discography

As leader

Year recorded Year released Title Label Notes
2008 2009 Live at Caramoor (Self-released) Solo piano concert
2010 Live at The Players (Self-released) Trio performances
2013 The Bespoke Man’s Narrative Mack Avenue Some songs with a trio, some with a quartet (four musicians)
2015 Space Time Continuum Mack Avenue Features different group sizes, from trio to sextet (six musicians)
2019 2020 The Vagabond Mack Avenue Trio performance
2022 2023 Zodiac Suite Mack Avenue With a trio and an orchestra called The Knights. Also features guest musicians.

Compilations

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