Passion. Joy. Love. Life. These words only begin to describe Claude Diallo`s musical universe. With nine self-produced CDs and a live DVD, Claude Diallo continues to aim at his goal: to present his unique compositions and singular style of playing to loyal audiences all over the world. His latest CD project, Live at No Black Tie, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was released on the label NBT Records in 2011.
Claude Diallo was born to a Swiss mother and a French father in St. Gallen, Switzerland, in 1981. He was destined to become a musician, as both parents played violin in the symphony orchestra. Inspired by Oscar Peterson’s fiery music, the young pianist was turned on to his true love- Jazz!
Between 2004 and 2006, Claude Diallo completed his Bachelor Degree in Performance, under the guiding hands of Danilo Perez, Raymond Santisi, and Frank Carlberg, at the renowned Berklee College of Music. During his studies in Boston, he had the extraordinary privilege of learning from the late Charlie Banacos- truly one of the best jazz educators of our time! Acclaimed musicians Joe Lovano, Andy McGhee, Kenwood Dennard, and Bob Moses further helped Claude Diallo find his own voice.
In 2007 Claude Diallo followed his dream; to live and play jazz in New York City! He earned his Master`s Degree from the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queen`s College in 2008. While there, he studied with David Berkman (piano), Michael Mossman (arrangement and composition), Antonio Hart (improvisation), and Dr. Howard Brofsky (jazz history).
Claude Diallo`s many accolades include: finalist in 2009 at the Montreux Jazz Festival Solo Piano Competition and the 2008 and 2011 recipient of the Cultural Achievement Award from his hometown of St. Gallen.
His performances range from solo piano to small bands as a leader and sideman, in locales including: New York, Boston, Washington D.C, Montreux Jazz Festival, Lucerne Festival, Zurich, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Taipei, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Tel Aviv, Sao Paulo, Tirana, Luxembourg, Berlin, Hannover, Munich, Stuttgart, Vienna, Paris, Madrid, the Dominican Republic and even the Islands of the Maldives.
Claude Diallo organized his ASIA TOUR- 2010 through Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong, taking his trio, Claude Diallo Situation, with him. The trio was founded in April 2007 with Swiss drummer Massimo Buonanno and French electric bassist Laurent Salzard. Some of the tour`s highlights were a performance at the Taipei International Jazz Festival, and a VIP gala dinner performance for the Swiss President, Doris Leuthard, in Singapore.
Claude Diallo has been privileged to accompany and record with such jazz greats as Andy McGhee, Denzal Sinclaire, Luques Curtis, James Williams, Louis Cato, Daniel Schnyder, Julian Chan, Brad Leali, Bruna Caram, Jennifer Holliday, Beat Kaestli, Angelita Li and Kenwood Dennard.
In 2012, 30 year old, New York-based Claude Diallo continues to use his international network by reaching out to new destinations in Europe and exploring the Asian Jazz Market.
Join Claude Diallo’s world of music and be part of his musical journey!
Claude Diallo performs at the Bacolod Jazzfest 2015.
Tickets available at the L'Fisher Hotel.
