& electric bass; Todd Strait, drums & percussion; guest artist:
Michael Brecker, tenor sax – Sony Classical SK 92593, 57:55 ****:
One name and one terrific talent in this 18-year-old young man from
Kyrgyzstan. Dr. Billy Taylor first heard him when he was only 11
and helped with his career. He moved to the U.S. with his parents
in l998, has scholarships at Interlochen and performed on the 2000
Grammy Awards show. He has great chops – a variety of techniques and
approaches which hopefully will eventually develop into a unique style
of his own. Even now, his maturity considering his age, is
considerable. Eldar’s imaginative style might make you think of Tatum
or Peterson with touches of Errol Garner and Hank Jones.
His keyboard virtuosity is backed – as with many European jazz
pianists – by a strong classical background. And in addition there is
the exoticism of central Asian folk culture – which in the track Nature
Boy fits beautifully, making the tune sound somehow more authentic and
less kitchy than usual. Eldar shows he works well with others in
his duo with Michael Brecker on Point of View, and most of his four
original tunes are delightful – especially Lady Wicks, on which he
plays unaccompanied piano. He really digs into Hancock’s Maiden
Voyage, and his original tune Watermelon Island seems clearly inspired
by Hancock’s Cantaloupe Island. Rather strange to have all these
jazz recordings under the aegis of Sony Classical, but that’s the way
the acrylic crumbles in these times of crossover crazyness.
Tracks: Sweet Georgia Brown, Nature Boy, Moanin,’ Point of View,
Raindrops, Lady Wicks, Maiden Voyage, ‘Round Midnight, Ask Me Now,
Watermelon Island, Fly Me to the Moon.
– John Henry
