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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. He is known for his amazing piano skills and for creating beautiful music.

In 2014, he was chosen as the Commission Artist for the Monterey Jazz Festival. This meant he got to write a special piece of music called Three Streams of Expression. He dedicated this piece to another famous pianist and composer, John Lewis. Aaron Diehl has also won several important awards. In 2013, he received the Jazz Journalists Association Award for Up-And-Coming Artist. In 2012, his album Live at the Players won the Prix du Jazz Classique from the Académie du Jazz. He also won the 2011 Cole Porter Fellowship from the American Piano Awards. These awards show how talented he is!

About Aaron Diehl

Early Life and Music

Aaron Diehl grew up in Columbus, Ohio. His family loved music, and his grandfather, Arthur Baskerville, was a pianist and trombonist who greatly influenced him. Aaron started playing piano at his family's church, St. Dominic's.

He began learning classical piano at age 7. Later, he found his love for jazz music at Interlochen Summer Camp. There, he met another young piano talent, Eldar Djangirov. Eldar's excitement for jazz legends like Oscar Peterson and Art Tatum inspired Aaron a lot.

Education and Early Career

In 2002, Aaron was a finalist in the Jazz at Lincoln Center's Essentially Ellington competition. He won an award for being an "Outstanding Soloist." The next year, he was invited to tour Europe with the famous Wynton Marsalis Septet.

Aaron graduated from the Juilliard School in 2007. At Juilliard, he studied with well-known musicians like Kenny Barron, Oxana Yablonskaya, and Eric Reed.

His Albums and Performances

Aaron Diehl released his first live album in 2009. It was a solo piano concert recorded at the Caramoor Festival. In 2010, his album Live at the Players featured two different trios. A trio is a group of three musicians.

His first album with Mack Avenue Records, The Bespoke Man’s Narrative, came out in 2013. This album became very popular, reaching No.1 on the JazzWeek Jazz Chart. People described it as "honest music that invites you back in to discover new wonders with each listening." In 2015, Aaron released another album called Space, Time, Continuum. This album featured famous jazz musicians like Benny Golson and Joe Temperley.

Aaron has toured with the amazing singer Cécile McLorin Salvant. He has also performed with many other talented artists. These include Warren Wolf, Lew Tabackin, Matt Wilson, Wycliffe Gordon, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and the New World Symphony.

Personal Life

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

Music Albums

As a Leader

Year recorded Year released Title Label Notes
2008 2009 Live at Caramoor (Self-released) Solo piano; recorded live in concert
2010 Live at The Players (Self-released) Performed with a trio; recorded live in concert
2013 The Bespoke Man’s Narrative Mack Avenue Some songs with a trio, others with a quartet including Warren Wolf on vibraphone
2015 Space Time Continuum Mack Avenue Features different group sizes, from trio to sextet, with guest musicians like Joe Temperley and Benny Golson
2019 2020 The Vagabond Mack Avenue Performed with a trio
2022 2023 Zodiac Suite Mack Avenue Features a trio, The Knights, and guest musicians

Music Collections

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