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Aaron Diehl

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Aaron Diehl
Diehl performing at the 2019 International Jazz Festival of Punta del Este
Diehl performing at the 2019 International Jazz Festival of Punta del Este
Background information
Born Aaron Diehl
September 22, 1985
Origin Columbus, Ohio, US
Genres Jazz
Occupation Pianist
Years active 2007–present
Label Mack Avenue
Website www.aarondiehl.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]

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.[6]

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.[7]

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[8] and is described as "honest music that invites you back in to discover new wonders with each listening."[9] Diehl's 2015 album Space, Time, Continuum featured Benny Golson and Joe Temperley.[10]

Diehl has toured with vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant.[11][12] 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.[13]

Personal life

Diehl lives in Harlem and is a licensed pilot.[14] He is a graduate of St. Charles Preparatory School.[15]

Diehl is Catholic.[16]

Discography

As leader

Year recorded Year released Title Label Notes
2008 2009 Live at Caramoor (Self-released) Solo piano; in concert[17][18]
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[17][18]
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[19]
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[20]
2019 2020 The Vagabond Mack Avenue Trio, with Paul Sikivie (bass), Gregory Hutchinson (drums)[21][22]
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)[23]

Compilations

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

References

  1. Back to citation Jones, Peter (April 6, 2020). "Aaron Diehl: "The Vagabond"". London Jazz News. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  2. Back to citation "2013 JJA Jazz Awards Winners". Jazz Journalists Association. 2013. Archived from the original on November 30, 2018. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  3. Back to citation "Palmarès 2012". Académie du Jazz. Archived from the original on April 5, 2015. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  4. Back to citation "The 2011 Jazz Fellow". American Pianists Association. Archived from the original on March 10, 2015. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  5. Back to citation Joy, Kevin (September 10, 2015). "Rising jazz pianist on mission to educate as well as entertain". The Columbus Dispatch. p. 13F; Joy, Kevin (October 22, 2009). "Finding his forte". The Columbus Dispatch. p. 1D; Joy, Kevin (September 9, 2015). "Rising jazz pianist on mission to educate as well as entertain". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  6. Back to citation Williamson, Don (2011). "Jazz Artists Interviews: Aaron Diehl". Jazz Review. Archived from the original on July 20, 2016. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  7. Back to citation Jackson, Grant (November 20, 2009). "Aaron Diehl On Piano Jazz". NPR. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  8. Back to citation Honcho (April 15, 2013). "April 15: Aaron Diehl Is No. 1". JazzWeek. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  9. Back to citation Schnabel, Tom (2013). "Aaron Diehl's Superb New Album". KCRW. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  10. Back to citation Perrotta, Tom (June 10, 2015). "Aaron Diehl, a Piano Prodigy, Taps Jazz Legends". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  11. Back to citation "Cécile McLorin Salvant and Aaron Diehl, piano". University Musical Society. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  12. Back to citation "Jazz Concert Review: Cécile McLorin Salvant and Aaron Diehl – A Remarkable Collaboration". The Arts Fuse. February 8, 2020. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  13. Back to citation "Aaron Diehl, piano". University of Chicago Presents. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  14. Back to citation Popov, Sasha (2014). Flying with Aaron Diehl (Video). PopovMedia.
  15. Back to citation Joy, Kevin (September 10, 2015). "Rising jazz pianist on mission to educate as well as entertain". The Columbus Dispatch.
  16. Back to citation Gross, Cristofer. "Revue: Cécile McLorin Salvant". Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  17. Back to citation occurrence 17.0 Back to citation occurrence 17.1 "Aaron Diehl – Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  18. Back to citation occurrence 18.0 Back to citation occurrence 18.1 Panken, Ted (January 2011). "Aaron Diehl: All Gold". DownBeat. p. 22.
  19. Back to citation Diehl, Aaron (2013). The Bespoke Man's Narrative (CD liner notes). MAC1066.
  20. Back to citation Diehl, Aaron (2015). Space Time Continuum (CD liner notes). MAC1094.
  21. Back to citation Jurkovic, Mike (February 16, 2020). "Aaron Diehl: The Vagabond". All About Jazz. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  22. Back to citation Ansell, Derek (May 27, 2020). "Aaron Diehl: The Vagabond". Jazz Journal. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  23. Back to citation Shipton, Alyn (October 2023). "Aaron Diehl: Zodiac Suite". Jazzwise; Diehl, Aaron (2023). Zodiac Suite (CD liner notes). MAC1201; Walker, Gary (October 11, 2023). "'Putting the puzzle together': Aaron Diehl on Mary Lou Williams' Zodiac Suite". WBGO. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
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