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One Reviewer Must not understand the piano

Jeff Phillips | Orlando,Fl | 07/26/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am not sure where the reviewer who was a bit negative is coming from, although certainly entitled to his opinion. The comparisons he makes however, fall short. Comparing Eldar with Joey DeFrancesco or Chick's Electric Band is not valid, because the entities are different and serve a different musical purpose. The kid has it all, and I mean "all". The reveiwer must not understand the piano very well near as I can figure. I have not heard anyone get a "sound" like Eldar does really since Bill Evans, or Oscar Peterson, whom I have heard live 4 times.

Most of the folks I know who gripe about someone having "too much chops", normally don't have too much chops. Oscar took heat for that, too, mainly by people who didn't get it. I am going to go hear Eldar again as soon as I possibly can. Fantastic!!"

Give the kid a break!

D. Powell | Los Angeles | 12/14/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Yes, he's young. Yes, he's fast. But why does he have to live up to Art Tatum or Oscar Peterson right out of the gate?

He's 19 years old!

Is he a bit gratuitous with the flourishes?.... sometimes..... but I chalk that up to youthful exhuberance.:)

If I could play runs like that, I'd sure want someone to 'know' it!

And no one can deny Eldar's technical prowess, which, at 19 years old, is mastery far beyond his years.

If anyone complains about his 'lack of soul', I have to ask, 'how much soul did 'you' have when you were 19??'

Eldar's soul is not yet at the depth of Art or Oscar, or Dorothy Donegan,who I 'love', but his soul is definitely a whole lot deeper than any 'other' 19 year old I've heard lately. If you really 'listen', you can hear little previews of what is to come from this artist.... fire, introspection, intelligence, humor (I smile everytime I hear his little fills on 'Moanin')....

And when he's 25, he'll sound different from his sound today.

When he's 45 he will have had much more 'life experience'; joy, happiness, sadness, heartbreak; experiences that will transform his soul like a fine aged wine. If Eldar can 'manage' his success, his future is to the moon.

But right now??... the kid is 'scary' he's so good!"

4 stars for technique; 1 star short for lack of depth

M. MESSINA | Brooklyn, NY | 08/15/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I feel I have to come to the defense of the reviewer who expressed reservations about the lack of emotion in Eldar's performances here, because I have to admit that I was struck by the very same thing. Eldar's technique always dazzles me, but his playing rarely moves me. Speaking from a strictly technical standpoint, he can probably play rings around just about anyone else: it would be almost inconceivable to imagine him ever hitting a wrong note. But there is an unsatisfying lack of passion in his playing, a little too much "Gee whiz, look, Ma, no hands!" bravado, but nowhere near enough soul.



Which is not to say I don't enjoy this recording on its own terms - I did buy it and don't regret the purchase, and even if he doesn't quite hit the right chords on an emotional level, Eldar's virtuosity is not without its charm. It will be interesting to hear him some years from now, perhaps, when he's accumulated a little more life experience. Until then, I can think of a dozen other pianists whose work, while perhaps not nearly as technically accomplished as Eldar's, is, for me, far more satisfying."