Eldar Djangirov....

Hard bop/post-bop pianist Eldar Djangirov has accomplished something that the vast majority of jazz artists -- pianists or otherwise -- will never accomplish: he landed a contract with a major label and received a Grammy nomination before he could have a drink. Eldar has recorded 5 albums including 3 with Sony Classical including the most recent Grammy nominated album, “Re-Imagination”.

Eldar came to the US from Kyrgyzstan in the former Soviet Union when he was nine. His first performance appearance in the US was at the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan. He quickly then moved up the ranks and was featured on Marian McPartland’s NPR Piano Jazz radio show at the age of 11. He then released two albums independently, Eldar [D&D] in 2001, which was followed by the release of his sophomore disc, Handprints, in 2003. In 2004, Djangirov signed with Sony Classical and recorded his third album, which is also titled Eldar [Sony] featuring the great bassist, John Patitucci, and Michael Brecker on tenor sax. He then followed up with the critically acclaimed “Live at the Blue Note” featuring Roy Hargrove and Chris Botti. Downbeat’s 4 star review states, “Few musicians on any axe swing like Eldar...his groove is intense and overwhelming. It’s not the flash and fire that should stir interest in Eldar. It’s what he does when the razzle-dazzle dies down and we sense substance within and beyond his pyrotechnics.” The NY Times noted a “formidable technique wedded to a mature grasp of musical structure.”

Eldar has appeared at many festivals including IAJE, Lionel Hampton, Jakarta, SXSW, and CMJ, and has toured throughout North America, Europe and Asia. He has performed at venues ranging from the Hollywood Bowl to Carnegie Hall and has played at the most notable jazz venues in the world including Blue Note (NY, Japan, Italy), the Vanguard, Dizzy’s, Yoshi’s, Jazz Alley, etc.. Eldar has been seen on national TV including the 2000 and 2008 Grammy’s, Conan O’Brien, The CBS Saturday Early Show, and Jimmy Kimmel Live.

2008 is a banner year for Eldar including a 2008 Grammy Nomination for Best Contemporary Jazz Album. Eldar currently lives in New York City.
http://www.eldarjazz.com/