The Daily Campus

Issue date: 10/6/06 Section: Focus

Eldar Djangirov, a Kyrgyztan, teenage master of the jazz scene plays at UConn.

Most 19-year-old jazz musicians are years away from showcasing their talent to the worldwide masses. One such teenager, Eldar Djangirov, is a rare exception to this rule. Born in Kyrgyzstan - not your average breeding ground for jazz musicians - Djangirov has been tearing up the jazz scene since his arrival in America.

His latest stop was Thursday night at von der Mehden Recital Hall. A few spectators were initially skeptical of Djangirov's recent acclaim.

"I came in with little expectations, but he really made the performance worth while," said Meagan Murphy, a 5th-semester Allied Health Sciences major. Immediately after the first few notes were played, all of Djangirov's skeptics were silenced.

Djangirov's playing style has been described as a cross between the technical wizardry of Art Tatum with the impressionist harmony of Bill Evans. For readers who are not familiar with either of these two pianists, his piano skills can be described as simply amazing.

"I couldn't believe how fast that kid was playing!" said Mike St. Clair, a 3rd-semester physiology and neurobiology major. "He was like greased lightning!"

Playing with Djangirov was bassist Marco Panascia and drummer Todd Strait. Strait was the perfect drummer to compliment Djangirov's aggressive and speedy piano playing. His playing was fluid and innovative. Strait's playing demeanor was like a little kid trapped in a grownup's body. His radiant, childish smile and laughter was exposed when interacting with his band mates. He would play everything his sticks and brushes could touch. He even played the cymbals and snare drums with his hands. With his solid bass playing, Panascia inherited the role as the rock of the band. When he wasn't soloing, his bass playing was delightfully unspectacular and suited the showmanship of Djangirov and Strait very well. Overall, the trio's chemistry cohesive and communicative.

The highlight of the first set was Djangirov's original piece titled "Point of View." As the decrescendo of the crowd's applause slowly silenced the hall, the trio slammed an up-tempo groove with the intensity and suddenness of an earthquake. As the piece continued to advance, the band suddenly stopped and quickly an extended bass solo filled the gaps. As Panascia's bass solo gained intensity, the band rumbled in and continued to jam. If the beginning of the piece was the earthquake, then the closing of the piece was the aftershock.

The delight of the second set was a cover of Bobby Timmons' "Moanin." Famously performed by drummer Art Blakey, Djangirov showed how great the song can sound when a young piano virtuoso gets his hands on it. In the spirit of James P. Johnson, Djangirov started the song showcasing his stride piano skills. After trailing off into a long improvisation, the band soon followed in playing the familiar melody. The highlight was Marco Panascia's solo. Holding back the entire show, Panascia was finally able to display his upright bass skills. The audience was pleasantly surprised by his solo.

Djangirov's performance was just what some UConn students needed.

"I had a fever, and the only prescription was more jazz piano," said Kevin Kraus, a 5th-semester economics major.

Following the concert, Djangirov was given a standing ovation from a joyous and amazed UConn crowd.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools