APA around the world | Aaron Diehl with the New York Philharmonic

2011 American Pianists Awards winner Aaron Diehl joins Music Director Alan Gilbert and the New York Philharmonic for the 2016-17 season Opening Gala Concert on Wednesday, September 21, 2016.

2011 American Pianists Awards winner Aaron Diehl

Since winning the 2011 Awards and the Cole Porter Fellowship, Aaron Diehl continues to amaze.

Diehl’s debut album in 2013, “The Bespoke Man’s Narrative,” reached No.1 on the JazzWeek Jazz Chart and was hailed by JazzTimes for displaying “precision and polish.” He followed that up with “Space Time Continuum,” which the New York Times called a “superior…jubilant, swinging outing.”

Touring internationally over the last couple of years, Diehl has caught the attention of much broader group than traditional jazz aficionados. That point was made clear when the New York Philharmonic announced he will perform the soloist role in George Gershwin’s Concerto in F at its season opener.

In a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal interview, Diehl discussed the Gershwin piece:

It is a classical concerto. What makes it so unique, though, is Gershwin’s embrace and use of rhythms, syncopations and folk material that are native to America. He’s got blues in there...The Charleston is all over the place in this piece.

He has hints of what we call Harlem stride, made famous by James P. Johnson, Willie “the Lion” Smith, and Fats Waller, who wrote “Honeysuckle Rose.” [He plays a few bars.]

You have this boom-chick figure in the left hand. It’s almost like ragtime but it’s a more advanced version, if you will. You have the syncopation in the right hand. In fact, I take it a step further from what Gershwin wrote, and I make it into a full-blown stride sort of style.

Sounds great! Tickets for the 175th Anniversary Season Opening Gala Concert are available at the New York Philharmonic’s website.

 

 

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