Born: March 23, 1977 Primary Instrument: Guitar, electric
New York native Greg Diamond first began his formal musical studies at La Fundación Cristancho in Bogotà, Colombia. He later completed his Undergraduate and Master's degree in Jazz Performance at The Aaron Copeland School of Music at Queens College in New York.
Brooklyn guitarist Greg Diamond has been an emerging force in recent years and is now situated at the forefront of a new generation of contem- porary latin jazz artists in New York City. Endowed with technical prowess and, above all, an impassioned distinguishable sound characterized by his mixed Latin American origins, Diamond puts forth an attractive and inno- vative concept of latin fusion in a modern jazz context. Greg and his steady band have been seen performing at venues such as: The Blue Note, Iridium Jazz Club, Joe’s Pub, Smalls Jazz Club, Nublu, and Zinc Bar; not to mention numerous festival presentations, among them: The Madrid International Jazz Festival, Barranquijazz Festival, Jimmy Glass Jazz Festival, Jazz al Par- que Festival, and The Nublu Jazz Festival. In 2007 he was a semi-finalist at The Gibson International Jazz Guitar Competition hosted by The Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. Both Diamond’s debut “Dançando Com Ale” (Chasm 2008) as well as his second release “Conduit” (Dot Time 2012) have garnered him praise among critics world-wide:
“Diamond continues to explore and refine a distinctive modern sound, and Conduit serves as the perfect vehicle for interpreting his take on fusion, Latin, and other modern sounds that comprise the jazz spectrum. One thing is certain: this is a varied musical project ener- gized by strong writing and superb musicianship, beginning with Diamond and extending to each member of his band...” Ed Blanco - All About Jazz
Diamond has shared the stage with Seamus Blake, Henry Cole, Antonio Ha- rt, Emilio Solla, Michael Mossman, Don Friedman, Gretchen Parlato, and many others.
Awards:
Semifinalist 2007 Gibson International Guitar Competition in MontreuxEdward Blanco – allaboutjazz.com
“...look for great things down the road from this pioneering world- jazz maestro...”
Jan P. Dennis –audiophileaudition.com
“Diamond shows, once again, that he is a composer of great maturity and genius”
Raul Da Gama –Latin Jazz Network
“...As he finds his individualism and personal voice, expect some grand music from this promising performer...”
Michael G. Nastos –Rovi
“...Here’s a guitarist that you’ve gotta hear...”
George W. Harris – jazzweekly.com
“...Diamond’s music is energetic and transcendental, a subjective vision of the artist realized in masterful form, where melody, harmony, and rhythm converge in a unique coalition that transmits with eloquence and great expressive force...”
José Antonio García López -tomajazz.com
“...one of the most exciting guitarists that I have heard in years...”
Johan Van Deeg –Dutch Jazz Times  “...The guitarist’s style is a smorgasboard of approaches both compositional and aural, each as rejuvenating as the last...”
Sharon Mizrahi – New York City Jazz Record
“...consistently assertive, delicate, experimental, and intelligent...”
Chip Boaz –Latin Jazz Corner
“...virtuosic performances from Diamond and his crew...”
Dr. Joe Barth — Just Jazz Guitar
“...a guitarist with the tensile strength, fortitude, and heart to scale greater heights quite soon...”
Raul D’Gama Rose – allaboutjazz.com
“... an impressive display of dexterity, scalar knowledge and taste...”
Walter Kolosky – jazz.com
“...Dançando Com Ale is as hip as it gets...”
Bobby Vega - jazztimes.com
“Warmth, texture, Latin flavors, tasteful playing and superior sound quality...”
John Coltelli — jazzitalia.net
“...deft fingering....with notes that are clean and clear..”
Woodrow Wilkins – allaboutjazz.com
“...Greg Diamond’s guitar shines...”
Dean Poling – The Valdosta Daily Times
“... a firm knowledge of jazz...Diamond performs an exciting set...”
Marke Andrews – Vancouver Sun
“...give Diamond and tenor saxophonist Seamus Blake A-pluses ...”
Owen Cordle - The News and Observer
“...nicely percolating...”
Tom Hull – tomhull.com
“...an adept guitarist...”
Gray Hunter – grayhunter.wordpress.com
“...Diamond’s own compositions are strong and serve notice that he is a writer to take note of...”
Brad Walseth – www.jazzchicago.net
“...An up and comer in Latin jazz with the chops to attract a lot of cool friends, Diamond is right on the money with his originals and well chosen covers...”
Chris Spector – midwestrecord.com
“...percolating Latin rhythms...passionate guitar lines...Diamond gives us a buoyant solo...”
Steve Gedrose – rivetingriffs.com
“Diamond leads us on a musical journey between North and South America with intelligence, humility, and sincerity...”
Alex Terrier – quietcolor.com
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Primary Instrument:
Guitar, electric
Location:
Brooklyn, NY
Credentials/Background:
www.guitarlessonsathome.net
Clinic/Workshop Information:
Currently an active Clinician for The Jazz Project, run by the Colden Center for
the Performing Arts.
