Eldar DjangirovEldar DjangirovEldar Djangirov, piano; Gerald Spaits, bass; Todd Strait, drums.
Elder Djangirov was fourteen years old when he made this CD; the youngster from Kyrgyzstan has an intuitive feel for the free improvisation of Jazz that most of us mortals can only dream about. His opening track, "Lady Bird", displays an innocent improvisational freedom and lightness of touch that settles agreeable warmth within you. Continuing through "Meetings And Partings" and "Footprints", this impression is strongly reinforced. Five of the compositions are his, as is all the arranging. Backed by a pair of excellent sidemen in Gerald Spaits on bass and Todd Strait on drums, Eldar takes us freely through "Rhododendron", so named because he liked the sound of the word; then a reflective stroll through Marian McPartland's "Afterglow"; followed by some dazzle with Thelonious Monk's "Well You Needn't". Finally scampering out with Charlie Parker's "Scrapple From The Apple". At the age of 14 Eldar has produced a good fledgling CD, and without doubt, time and maturity will produce great CDs.
by Ferdinand Maylin