Aaron Diehl performs James P. Johnson as part of the new season of WBGO and Yamaha NYC’s concert series. Hosted by WBGO “Daybreak” host, Gary Walker.
On October 30th members of the WBGO Jazz Leadership Society, and other invited guests, gathered at Yamaha Artist Services in Manhattan, where pianist Aaron Diehl enthralled the audience with a program of the music of James P. Johnson, the creator of the Charleston, an architect of stride piano, and a resident of San Juan Hill, the area of New York City where Lincoln Center is today, and the home of jazz icons Benny Carter, Thelonious Monk, Johnson and others who amidst the Black, Afro-Caribbean and Puerto Rican cultures created music that we celebrate to this day. Aaron took us back to that glorious time through music committed to memory (no sheet music), and brought James P. Johnson to life with his musical skills and stories, which highlighted the wonderful evening.
Watch the live presentation here: