Electronic Press Kit for Jon Diaz As a guitarist, Jon has played in a variety of styles ranging from Classical to abstract improvisations. In the mid-1980's, Jon toured, recorded, and performed on television and radio with Robert Fripp and The League Of Crafty Guitarists. He went on to play live with Grey Zone, Peter Stewart Band, and The Del Vikings. In 2000, Jon formed Where's My Angel? with Grey Zone/Del Vikings bassist Jay Cavanaugh. Through Jay's recommendation Jon joined Vera Beren's Gothic Chamber Blues Ensemble. As a composer, Jon worked with choreographer Caron Eule, along with his electronic World Music duo The Drone Twins, featuring Vera Beren on vocals. Their composition "Ritual" was featured at the 2003 Elan awards in NYC honoring director/choreographer Rob Marshall. "Ritual" had its West Coast debut in November of 2004 at the 7th Annual Dance Under the Stars festival in Palm Desert, CA. In 2005 Jon collaborated with Katie Takahashi on the theater piece "The Ninja Project/Voices of the Wind." He was a recipient of a Meet The Composer grant for his participation in the Ninja Project. "Voices of the Wind" was featured in the 2005 NYC Fringe Festival. November of 2007 saw the release of Jon's debut cd Circling From Above.

Robert Fripp And The League Of Crafty Guitarists : Live! EG 1986 Toyah & Fripp : The Lady Or The Tiger EG 1986 The League Of Crafty Guitarists : Get Crafty I (Cassette only) 1988 Jon Diaz & Douglas Baldwin : I Shall From Now On Do The Things I'm Not Supposed To Do (Cassette only) 1989 Liv Cummins : Some Days 22 records 1994 Where's My Angel? : 2001 The Drone Twins : Music For Dance (EP) Industrial Elephant 2003 Where's My Angel : Acoustic 2007 Jon Diaz : Circling from Above 2007 Reviews Circling From Above Jon Diaz Guitarist/Composer Jon Diaz first made a name for himself in music as an original member of Robert Fripp's "League of Crafty Guitarists". With his newest music, "Circling Form Above", Jon takes a pot luck of sounds from around the globe. All the compositions are finely done. The basic ensemble is Jon Diaz (Acoustic Guitar - Steel String, Nylon and Prepared), Mazz Swift (Violin), Mathias Kunzli (Percussion) and Pietro Russino (Guitar). Other guest musicians appear of various tracks adding a variety of flavors. On "Griot", the addition on of Steve Gorn on the bansuri adds a distinctly haunting mood. "King Arthur" is a steel-string guitar duet between Jon and Pierto which has a majestic quality and a galloping rhythm, putting a stridden king in mind. "The Scroll" minor-key gives the mysteriousness one might imagine with the title. Jon's music emphasizes the craft of composing rather than dazzling guitar styles or bombastic jams all in the name of expression. His music showcases rhythmic textures from the combination of hand percussion and the acoustic guitar (especially the prepared). The various guitar, bansuri and violin all take their turns providing the strong melodies throughout the songs. - Cameron Blades www.worldrhythmwebzine.com Apr 2008 Circling From Above Jon Diaz Here is a fascinating, eclectic mix of pieces drawing upon modalities from different cultures and countries. Composer and guitarist Jon Diaz plays with great skill, and creates an album which moves from classical to rock to jazz to latin to middle-eastern to Indian, and on. Joined at times by various strings, percussion, wailing vocals, and world instruments, Circling From Above has a striking inventiveness and appeal about it. - Mark Maxwell Abushady www.creationsmagazine.com Aug 2008