Well, he must be considered an official member of the jazz society as opposed to simply being a child prodigy, because the “pianist previously known as Eldar” as finally added his last name to his title. Now in his twenties, Djangarov cannot be considered a novelty, and like all people that first made their names as youngsters, sooner or later have to trade in their fame due to novelty in for actual substance. He’s always had the chops, and here he mixes that with his trio of Armando Gola/b and Ludwig Afonso/dr to display an impressive talent for composing as well.
Yes, he still does some jazz standards, delivering a wonderfully clear and lyrical take of “Somebody Loves Me” while showcasing otherworldly delicacy on the pianissimo sections of “What’ll I Do” while sounding luminescent on “No Moon At All.” His own pieces, on the other hand, have a sophisticated complexity that boggle the mind. Chris Potter’s tenor cameo on the title track tips a hat to Coltrane’s classic quartet, while “Point of View” and “In Pursuit,” like classic who-dunnit films of the 40s, deserve multiple takes to fully appreciate and understand. This guy shows a potential reached and still promised. Keep in touch with him.
Motema Records