Eldar Djangirov: "Embraceable You"

Live at the Kennedy Center
http://www.eldarmusic.com/

ELDAR "Driven Blues" Live at Atlanta Jazz Festival

Performing a composition entitled "DRIVEN BLUES" from the concert on May 24, 2014
Eldar Djangirov (piano)
Armando Gola (bass)
Ludwig Afonso (drums)

Eldar Recalls Torture from Bach, Flunking Jazz

By Patrick Cole - Jul 24, 2013 1:01 AM GMT-0300
Jazz edged out the classical music of his boyhood piano lessons, but Eldar Djangirov couldn’t stay away from Bach.

After releasing his debut CD of jazz standards in 2005, “Eldar,” the 26-year-old Kyrgyzstan native has blazed a trail in the musical world with his dual vocabulary: April brought a jazz trio recording, “Breakthrough,” while the following month came the solo classical effort “Bach/Brahms/Prokofiev.”


Eldar and his jazz trio mates, drummer Colin Stranahan and bassist Rick Rosato, will have the backing of a full orchestra when they take the stage Sunday at the Saratoga Choral Festival.

We spoke over a cup of coffee at French Roast, a cafe on Manhattan’s Upper West Side near his apartment:

Cole: You had just enrolled at the University of Southern California to study music when I first met you, and then you dropped out. Why?

Eldar: I was on the road a lot. I actually failed jazz combo because I was absent so much. That’s not to say that I didn’t learn anything at USC. There was a great professor there, Shelly Berg, who is now the dean of the University of Miami’s music program.

Our lessons were very much about composition and just sharing classical music together. That’s pretty much my entire practice routine, composition and improving different sides of my brain.

Jazz Trio
Cole: Why do you often play in the trio format instead of in a quartet or quintet?
Eldar: I like the smaller band format because I’m playing piano in a lot of sections on these songs, so I have to have space basically.

Cole: It’s unusual to see two albums emerge from one artist released within months of each other.

Eldar: Sometimes you’re at the mercy of your will. You’re so inside what you’re doing and it just happens. There were three different styles that enriched my playing. These two releases are like three stories but they’re in two records.

Cole: When did you develop a love for music and start playing?

Eldar: When I was five. I played classical music until about age 13. Then I played jazz because classical music was torture for me. My mother was a music instructor. I didn’t enjoy it.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-07-24/eldar-recalls-torture-from-bach-flunking-jazz.html

Eldar Djangirov....

The New York Times described the New York based pianist Eldar Djangirov as “a blend of musical intelligence, organizational savvy, enthusiasm and prowess that was all the more impressive for seeming so casual… an ebullient impressionist.” Dr. Billy Taylor said, “Eldar Djangirov’s playing shows brilliancy, complexity, and discipline… he’s serious about his music, he’s thoughtful about what he does.” Jazz Times said, “Maybe he made a pact with Lucifer to be the greatest pianist ever.” Praised as “a genius beyond most young people I’ve heard” by Dave Brubeck. Downbeat magazine stated that “his command of his instrument is beyond staggering.”

When Eldar Djangirov (pronounced john-’gear-ov) was signed to Sony Masterworks at the age of 17, the young pianist from Kansas City was already well known for his prodigious pyrotechnics and precocious knowledge of the bebop tradition. Along the way, he’s had the good fortune to meet and work with the masters including Dr. Billy Taylor, Marian McPartland, Dave Brubeck, Michael Brecker, Wynton Marsalis, Joshua Redman, Nicholas Payton, Harvey Mason, Ron Carter, Pat Martino and many others. Through these opportunities and other wonderful musical experiences, Eldar continues to explore new frontiers through composing and performing, enabling him to ultimately to realize his own musical vision.

Born on January 28, 1987, Eldar came to the U.S. from the former Soviet Union when he was ten. Among his first performances were in his hometown of Kansas City, as well as The Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan. He quickly then moved up the ranks and was featured on the NPR Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz show at the age of twelve. He released two albums independently. Eldar signed with Sony and recorded his major label self-titled debut featuring the great bassist, John Patitucci, and Michael Brecker on tenor sax. He followed up with the critically acclaimed “Live at the Blue Note” with guest appearances by Roy Hargrove and Chris Botti in 2006. Eldar was nominated for a Grammy in 2008 for his album “Re-imagination.”

Eldar has appeared at numerous major jazz festivals including Tokyo Jazz Festival, Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, Java Jazz Festival, Vienna Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, and San Francisco Jazz Festival and has toured extensively 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 across the world. Eldar has been seen on national TV including the 2000 and 2008 Grammy Awards, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, CBS Saturday Early Show, and Jimmy Kimmel Live. In addition, he has also played with world renowned symphony orchestras such as NHK Symphony Orchestra, Russian National Orchestra, and San Diego Symphony Orchestra. He has 4 critically acclaimed trio albums including the most recent “Virtue” featuring his trio Armando Gola (bass) and Ludwig Afonso (drums) as well as guest appearances by Joshua Redman and Nicholas Payton. “With the release of Virtue, Eldar may have sealed his role in future jazz history” (Bill Meredith, Jazziz). Eldar’s 5th album is his first solo piano album entitled “Three Stories” which garnered rave reviews. “This is certainly jazz piano, but it’s the kind that belongs in a recital hall… Djangirov gets to the heart of every song” (Dan Bilawsky, All About Jazz); “Something special goes on here… In Djangirov’s hands, the piano is a dramatic personage” (Karl Stark, Philadelphia Inquirer); “Djangirov’s playing is, simply, flawless” (Jeff Tamarkin, All Music Guide).

Eldar is releasing two projects simultaneously; his album Breakthrough is a dynamic trio outing featuring longtime bandmates Armando Gola (bass) and Ludwig Afonso (drums). The album displays Eldar’s singular sonic imprint on an infectious array of standards and originals, with guest appearances by jazz greats Joe Locke and Chris Potter. His second release Bach/Brahms/Prokofiev is a Classical solo piano album that showcases his unique interpretations of renowned pieces like Bach’s Partita in C minor, Brahms’ Eight Piano Pieces, Op. 76, and Prokofiev’s Sonata #7, Op. 83. Breakthrough is slated for release on April 9, 2013 and Bach/Brahms/Prokofiev will be released on May 14, 2013. Eldar currently resides in New York City.

SHOWS

Grammy® Nominated Pianist Eldar Djangirov....

Grammy® Nominated Pianist Eldar Djangirov Achieves a Career Breakthrough with Tandem Releases: A Solo Classical Debut Plus a New Jazz Trio Opus

"...a genius beyond most young people I’ve heard"

-- Dave Brubeck

"A sparkling command of the instrument."

-- Chick Corea

"An uncompromising clarity of rhythm, timing and sound that is pure light."

-- Jan Vogler, Dir., Moritzburg Chamber Music Festival

Few artists could record two albums over the course of one week in different musical genres, with disparate personnel, and at separate studios. Yet New York City-based pianist Eldar Djangirov has done just that, and proven himself musically ambidextrous as evidenced by two remarkable, self-produced recordings for his debut on the maverick, multi-Grammy® nominated Motéma Music earlier this month and in May.

'Bach/Brahms/Prokofiev,' recorded solo at Manhattan Center Studios and available May 14, marks the pianist's second solo release, and his debut album in the classical genre. It expands, with fervor and finesse, upon the much-lauded classical pieces interspersed on Eldar's 2011 solo piano debut Three Stories. It captures Bach's 1720s playfulness on "Partita #2 in C minor, BWV 826" and Brahms' 1870s harmony on "Eight Piano Pieces, Op. 76."

Eldar, a native of the former Soviet Union, further showcases his roots through Prokofiev's "Sonata #7 in Bb major, Op. 83" from the 1940s. The pieces are united by their “powerful logic,” says Eldar, who after making a career in jazz recently delved into the classical canon - it “enriches my musical vernacular and helps with composition," he explains.

According to Jan Vogler, the celebrated classical cellist who also serves as music director for two of Europe's most prestigious Classical festivals, "There is a deep relationship between [Eldar] and the piano, intimate and virtuosic at the same time. And there is the determination and vision to play the music he hears in his inner ear."

Read more: http://mad.ly/6370b3?pact=413637477336858954&fe=1

Live in Montreal May 2012

Eldar Djangirov (piano)
Armando Gola (bass)
Ludwig Afonso (drums)

playing original composition "Blink"

A New Jazz Trio Opus Plus A Solo Classical Debut

"...a genius beyond most young people I’ve heard"

-- Dave Brubeck

"A sparkling command of the instrument."
-- Chick Corea

"An uncompromising clarity of rhythm, timing and sound that is pure light."
-- Jan Vogler, Dir., Moritzburg Chamber Music Festival

Few artists could record two albums over the course of one week in different musical genres, with disparate personnel, and at separate studios. Yet New York City-based pianist Eldar Djangirov has done just that, and proven himself musically ambidextrous as evidenced by two remarkable, self-produced recordings for his debut on the maverick, multi-Grammy® nominated Motéma Music this April and May.

Eldar's Breakthrough, recorded at Avatar Studios in New York City, releases April 9. Like the 26-year-old's 2009 disc Virtue, it features his long-standing touring trio with bassist Armando Gola and drummer Ludwig Afonso. Breakthrough breaks through to reinforce just how powerful and poignant a road tested jazz trio of young lions can be.

Captured live in the studio, Breakthrough exudes compositional brilliance, improvisation and interplay. The trio pushes the envelope on Eldar's "Point of View Redux," and features guest vibraphonist Joe Locke on the pianist's dizzying "Blink" and saxophonist Chris Potter on Eldar's impressively layered title track. Eldar's arrangements of Irving Berlin's ballad "What'll I Do" and the whimsical Redd Evans/David Mann composition "No Moon at All" feature electric bassist Gola switching to an acoustic upright instrument, playing evocative lines as Afonso eschews drumsticks to provide stirring brushwork. There's even a telekinetic cover of British pop band Radiohead's "Morning Bell."

UPCOMING SHOWS

Apr 12 - Berks Jazz Fest
May 3 - Ventura Music Festival
May 8 - Piedmont Piano Company
May 24 - Festival Musique de Chambre Montreal
May 29 - Blues Alley
July 28 - Saratoga Performing Arts Center

Read more: http://mad.ly/c9e393?pact=376347836879124712&fe=1

When Eldar was signed to Sony Classical at the age of 17,....

When Eldar was signed to Sony Classical at the age of 17, the young pianist from Kansas City was already well known for his prodigious pyrotechnics and precocious knowledge of the bebop tradition. Along the way, he's had the good fortune to meet and/or work with the masters including Dr. Billy Taylor, Marian McPartland, Dave Brubeck, Michael Brecker, Wynton Marsalis, Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, etc. Through these opportunities and other wonderful musical experiences, Eldar continues to explore new frontiers through composing and performing, enabling him to ultimately to realize his own musical vision.

At age 22, Eldar has reached a whole new level of maturity in his new trio recording entitled Virtue, which is scheduled for release on August 25. His fourth album on Sony Masterworks, Virtue affirms his position at the forefront of contemporary jazz and is a fitting follow-up to his 2008 Grammy-nominated album, re-imagination. Partnered by bassist Armando Gola and drummer Ludwig Afonso, Virtue features stunning original compositions by Eldar and demonstrates the continued development of his writing. Eldar also welcomes guest appearances by trumpeter Nicholas Payton and saxophonists Joshua Redman and Felipe Lamoglia.

Virtue balances exhilarating youthful energy with a new found sophistication and depth of reflection that mirrors his personal and creative growth. "I'm so proud of this album, more so than any I've done so far," he insists. "In many ways, you could think of it as a soundtrack to my direct experiences since I've moved to New York City."

It's been three years since he relocated from Los Angeles and began processing the stimuli that his new home provided. The result is Virtue, which is at the same time adventurous and accessible. Its individual tracks combine to create an impression as complex as an urban skyline. Eldar and his group build on this idea by challenging each other through interactions as alive as the rush of humanity through city streets.

Eldar came to the U.S. from Kyrgyzstan in the former Soviet Union when he was ten. His first performance here was at the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan. He quickly then moved up the ranks and was featured on the NPR Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz show at the age of twelve. He then released two albums independently, Eldar [D&D] in 2001, which was followed by the release of his second disc, Handprints, in 2003.

In 2004, Eldar signed with Sony Classical and recorded his third album, which is also self-titled featuring the great bassist, John Patitucci, and Michael Brecker on tenor sax. He followed up with the critically acclaimed Live at the Blue Note featuring Roy Hargrove and Chris Botti in 2006. One year later, his eagerly anticipated recording, re-imagination, displayed Eldar incorporating new influences resulting in his first Grammy nomination and rave reviews.

The New York Times stated, “A blend of musical intelligence, organizational savvy, enthusiasm and prowess that was all the more impressive for seeming so casual…an ebullient impressionist.” Dr. Billy Taylor said, “Eldar Djangirov's playing shows brilliancy, complexity, and discipline… he's serious about his music, he's thoughtful about what he does.” Perhaps Jazz Times summed it up best: “Maybe he made a pact with Lucifer to be the greatest pianist ever…”

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 Awards, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, CBS Saturday Early Show, and Jimmy Kimmel Live.

2008 was a banner year for Eldar including a Grammy Nomination for Best Contemporary Jazz Album. 2009 has Eldar touring around the world including upcoming debuts at North Sea, Pori and Vienna Jazz Festivals, the Jazz Standard and Highline Ballroom in NYC, and concerts with Dave Brubeck, McCoy yner and the NHK Orchestra among others. Eldar attended the University of Southern California and currently lives in New York City.

Program:
Sat, 05/01/2010 Newark, New Jersey New Jersey Performing Arts Center - Victoria Theater (WBGO)
Fri, 05/07/2010 San Diego, California Anthology
Wed, 06/02/2010 New York City, NY Alice Tully Hall (World Science Festival)
Fri, 08/20/2010 New York City, NY Rubin Art Museum
Wed, 08/25/2010 New York City, NY Highline Ballroom
http://www.eldarjazz.com/biography

The 22 year-old Kyrgyz jazz piano prodigy, Eldar Djangirov, performs "Vanilla Sky/Exposition" live in the KPLU studios on October 27, 2009.

JAZZ Jam: Eldar Djangirov

By Culturekiosque Staff
In Russia piano prodigies sprout like mushrooms. Evgeni Kissin (b. 1971, Moscow) was one, Konstantin Lifschitz (b. 1976, Kharkov) another. A few mature into great artists; most burn out on the contest or concert circuits and eventually disappear into the dustbins of history. The latest revelation from the ex-Soviet Empire to grab headlines and attract the music business is Eldar Djangirov — an international jazz phenomenon "known for his virtuosity in the style of the great Oscar Peterson " — a perhaps excessive bit of publicity hype.

Be that as it may, jazz aficionados in New York and Seattle will have an opportunity to judge for themselves when the young jazzman plays sets at the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center in Long Island City this weekend and Dimitriou's Jazz Alley in Seattle next month.
Eldar, as he prefers to be called, was born on 28 January 1987 to Russian parents in the former Soviet Union. He spent his first ten years in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, a province on the eastern border of the then-Soviet Union, where his father, Emil, was a mechanical engineer and his mother, Tatiana, was a professor of music studies. Eldar came to the United States when he was 10. His first performance appearance in the U.S. was at the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan. Marian McPartland invited Eldar to appear on her NPR Piano Jazz radio show at the age of 12. In 2001, Eldar participated in the jazz piano competition of the 2001 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival and won the top prize. The following year, he won first place in the Peter Nero Piano Competition.

Eldar Djangirov's website describes him as a "hard bop/post-bop pianist" who "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 legally be served alcoholic beverages in the USA." Eldar was labeled a prodigy with the release of his debut CD "Eldar" in 2005 and was nominated for a Grammy Award for his 2007 CD "Re-imagining." Billboard magazine has praised him for having "the fastest hands in jazz." Eldar has recorded 5 albums including 3 with Sony Classical. Eldar received a 2008 Grammy Nomination for Best Contemporary Jazz Album.
http://www.culturekiosque.com/jazz/seen/Eldar_Djangirov351.html

Eldar Djangirov Live at the Cutting Room

April 10, 2007 at a free concert in New York City, playing an Oscar Peterson original Place St. Henri

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/