In terms of technique and velocity, 22-year-old Eldar Djangirov
outstrips just about every other pianist in the world. He’s a
boy-wonder, educated by staunch Russian piano teachers and turned onto
jazz by way of Oscar Peterson. Roughly a decade into his career, Eldar
is known for a super-human tendency to play everything as fast as
possible. He’s aggressive and clean, tackling hard melodies at
prestissimo tempos without ever bobbling a phrase. Thus, his pieces
often sound virtuosic — or like practice exercises, depending on
your point of view. Eldar’s 2007 release Re-Imagination kicked
off with an absolutely gripping tune called “I Remember When,” a series
of fast, dense arpeggios locked into a boring harmonic structure. It
showed exactly why he has garnered so much attention, and why critics
accuse him of not playing jazz.
This year’s Virtue marks a new direction. With ten original
tunes (eight credited to Eldar) and one standard, it’s a lot more
substantive than his previous material. He doesn’t quite swing, but he
finally finds value in the space between notes. Moreover, his rhythms
and harmonies are a lot more complex than before. On “Insensitive,”
Eldar gives his left hand a polyrhythmic feel, while playing syncopated
lines with his right hand. His harmonies go all the way classical in
“Lullaby Fantazia,” another piece made hip by virtue of its rhythmic
ideas — and by drummer Ludwig Afonso, who evidently has enough
sensitivity to follow the bandleader’s whims. The effect is beautiful
and disorienting. Guest saxophonists Joshua Redman and Felipe Lamoglia
give Virtue a modern edge, as does Nicholas Payton, who adds a
hefty trumpet solo on “Blackjack.” Eldar is still trying to find
mooring. But his music got a lot more interesting in the process.
(Sony)
