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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 10, 2008 - 8:00 p.m.
South Florida JAZZ welcomes the Tiger Woods of jazz piano, Eldar, with his trio making his first appearance in the state of Florida.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - South Florida's premier modern jazz organization is excited to be the first jazz presenters to feature the 21-year-old piano phenom Eldar Djangirov. This is actually a sneak preview, as Eldar returns on January 25 to board the m/s Westerdam's Playboy Jazz Cruise along with many other jazz luminaries. At this concert, SFJ will announce the winner of a free cabin on the cruise raffled off among SFJ cruise purchasers.

This concert takes place at the 500-seat Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center on the Nova Southeastern University campus, 3100 Ray Ferrero, Jr Blvd in Davie 33314. Tickets are $35 ($25 for South Florida JAZZ members and $10 for students at any level with I.D.) and may be purchased from the AutoNation Box Office by calling 954.462.0222 in Broward County; also toll-free at 877-311-SHOW, as well as online at: southfloridajazz.org, the presenting organization's official Website.

For more details visit: southfloridajazz.org

Few wear the prodigy/virtuoso label better than Eldar Djangirov, the 21-year-old pianistic phenomenon. Born in Bishkek, Kyrgystan, a former Soviet republic, Eldar, born to a classical pianist mother and a jazz-loving father, began his studies at the age of three and it was quickly apparent that this child had a special talent. At nine he performed at a jazz festival in Novosibirsk, Siberia, impressing an American patron who then obtained consecutive summer scholarships for him at the prestigious Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan. Meanwhile, the family decided to immigrate to Kansas City, Missouri, which they recognized as a historical center for jazz.

Some have called him the Tiger Woods of jazz piano. Since immigrating to America at 12, Eldar has dazzled fans and critics with his extraordinary technique drawn from Art Tatum and Oscar Peterson. He appeared on Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz that same year and then Billy Taylor did a feature on him on the CBS Sunday Morning show. Not a bad start for a kid.

With three acclaimed CDs under his own name on Sony with guest artists like Michael Brecker and Chris Botti, Eldar is now a major artist. His most recent CD, Re-imagination, was nominated for a prestigious Grammy Award in 2007 for Best Contemporary Jazz Album. Having discovered the "inner Eldar" he is a truly brilliant performer who no longer feels the need to overplay, a criticism of his teenage years. Along with the obvious influences above, Eldar cites as heroes Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea Brad Mehldau, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Michael Brecker, Pat Metheny, and Kurt Rosenwinkel. Entering the eclectic mix are classical pianists, Evgeny Kissin and Arcadi Volodos, plus Bjork, Sting and Radiohead.

Eldar's trio has players familiar to South Florida audiences. Bassist Armando Gola also plays with Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Arturo Sandoval. Cuban-born drummer Ludwig Alfonso studied at University of Miami and played with Ira Sullivan, Othello Molineaux, and Sammy Figueroa before leaving for New York and a stint with Spyro Gyra. Both players are in great demand.

Funding for this organization is provided in part by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council.