Eldar Trio Performs in Warsaw

Eldar Djangirov performing on piano (more photos)

A young jazz group currently causing a sensation in the jazz world, the Eldar Trio paid its first visit to Warsaw for two performances.  The trio is led by young pianist and composer Eldar Djangirov, and also stars Aaron McLendon on drums and Harish Raghavan on bass.  The band appeared before a full house at the Melodia Club in Warsaw on Nov. 28 at 20:30 and also performed and conducted master classes at Chopin High School for Music on ul. Bednarska on Nov. 27.  The Melodia concert featured as an opening act the latest line-up of the U4 Quartet, led by another promising young pianist – Uraz Kivaner (Melodia Club, Nowy Swiat 3/5 at 19:00). 

At 20, Eldar has outgrown the title of “prodigy” but the young man who Billboard magazine said has “the fastest hands in jazz” is what his fellow musicians would reverently call a “monster.” Eldar has earned widespread recognition and praise for his talents: he was the youngest pianist ever to perform on Marian McPartland’s venerable NPR show Piano Jazz, and has appeared on national TV, including CBS’s Sunday Morning, Late Night With Conan O’Brian and the 2000 telecast of the Grammy Awards. In 2004 he performed for President Bush at the White House.

Support for the Eldar Trio’s visit to Poland has been provided by the American Embassy, the Intercontinental Hotel, and E&Y Investment Ltd.