thumb Eldar E. Djangirov , most commonly known only as Eldar , is a jazz pianist. He was born on January 28 1987 in Kyrgyzstan (ex-Soviet Union) and then moved to Kansas, United States. He currently resides in New York City.

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Early years

He began playing the piano when he was 3 years old, learning from his Russian parents. The first thing he remembers learning was C Jam Blues . He later took classical lessons and was "discovered" at age 9 by the late New York City jazz aficionado Charles McWhorter, who saw him play at a festival in Siberia. The family moved to Kansas City, drawn there in large part by the city's jazz history. During his Kansas City years, even before reaching his teens, Eldar already started building a reputation as a true child prodigy, appearing on Marian McPartland's award-winning NPR show, Piano Jazz , when he was only 12 years old, being the youngest performer to ever appear on her show. Eldar attended Interlochen Center for the Arts in his young teenage years. Eldar attended St. Elizabeth's grade school and the Barstow School in Kansas City, Missouri. Eventually, the family moved to San Diego where he attended the Francis W. Parker School, and then to the Los Angeles area where he attended University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music.

Discography

Eldar has three albums released by Sony Classical, his debut album Eldar in March 2005, his album Live at the Blue Note in May 2006, and his latest album, re-imagination in June 2007.

Eldar
Release Date: March 22, 2005/Sony Classical Records

1. Sweet Georgia Brown
2. Nature Boy
3. Moanin'
4. Point of View
5. Raindrops
6. Lady Wicks
7. Maiden Voyage
8. 'Round Midnight
9. Ask Me Now
10. Watermelon Island
11. Fly Me to the Moon

Live at the Blue Note
Release Date: May 30, 2006/Sony Classical Records

1. What Is This Thing Called Love
2. Someday
3. You Don't Know What Love Is (featuring Chris Botti)
4. Daily Living
5. Dat Dere
6. Besame Mucho
7. Straight, No Chaser (featuring Roy Hargrove)
8. Sincerely
9. Chronicle
10. Take The A Train

Re-Imagination
Release Date: June 5, 2007/Sony Classical Records

1. I Remember When
2. Interlude #1
3. Prairie Village
4. Out of Nowhere
5. Interlude #2
6. Back Home
7. Place St. Henri
8. Tears
9. South Bixel
10. Dream Song
11. Polaris

Playing style

Eldar's playing style is characterized by prodigious technique and musicality. Some notable influences are piano jazz artists McCoy Tyner, Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson, Herbie Hancock, and Brad Mehldau.