Eldar Wins Raves for Debut Sony Classical Album

One of the most acclaimed recording breakthroughs in years, jazz pianist Eldar's self-titled Sony Classical debut album made an unprecedented debut at No. 7 on the JazzWeek radio chart, and now tops the chart at No. 1.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050513/NYF006 )

The engaging 18 year-old pianist has been garnering raves from jazz critics across the country, as his performances have been wowing audiences the nation's top jazz venues.

* Los Angeles Times writes:

"Eldar brought gasps of astonishment from a mesmerized audience. He whipped through a set of finger-blurring passages delivered with precision, tonal variation and a brisk sense of swing ... The mature and knowledgeable manner in which he delivers each performance is a revelation."

* Philadelphia Inquirer writes:

"His free-flowing technique is huge yet one of the most likable things is how he can compel listeners to curl up and take in some beautiful vistas."

* JazzTimes writes:

"Eldar has formidable chops, as a lightning 'Sweet Georgia Brown' makes perfectly clear with its clean Tatum-indebted runs and flourishes ... His ballad playing ... has sensitivity and a sense of proportion ... His take on 'Maiden Voyage,' with its intriguing chord voicings and rhythmic patterns, displays his originality."

This summer, Eldar will be performing in top jazz clubs across the country, including:

  *  Yoshi's in Oakland (June 6)
  *  Jazz Alley in Seattle (June 7-8)
  *  Dizzy's in New York (June 14-19)
  *  Mohegan Sun (June 21-22)
  *  Scullers in Boston (June 23)
  *  Zanzibar in Philadelphia (June 24-25)
  *  Blues Alley in Washington, D.C. (June 26)

  His Fall schedule includes:

  *  Orange County Performing Arts Center (September 16-17)
  *  Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra at Rose Hall in New York
     (September 22-23)
  *  House of Blues in Los Angeles (September 24)
  *  Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. (November 17)

Eldar left his native Kyrgyzstan for the United States in 1998, a boy of 11 with a slight grasp of English but an astonishing natural talent that immediately captured the attention of the jazz world. In the last seven years, with the support of his family, he has established American roots as he continued his education, absorbed the culture, honed his technical skills and emerged as one of the most distinctive jazz pianists of the new generation.

He has been featured on the 42nd annual Grammy Awards broadcast, appeared on Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz series on NPR and CBS's Sunday Morning. On May 8, NPR's Weekend Edition did a major feature on Eldar.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050513/NYF006
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

SOURCE: Sony Classical

CONTACT: Susan Schiffer, Senior Director, Publicity of Sony BMG
Masterworks, +1-212-833-4763, susan.schiffer@sonybmg.com