Wunderkind returning to jazz fest

Last year, the Salt Lake City International Jazz Festival introduced Utah audiences to 16-year-old pianist Eldar Djangirov. And the audience was captivated by his performances in the lobby of the Grand America Hotel.

Djangirov, now 17, will be making a return engagement to this year's Salt Lake City International Jazz Festival. And event director Jerry Floor is elated. "Eldar was amazing last year," said Floor. "People need to keep an eye on him. He's destined for greatness."

Things have already been happening in the pianist's life. He was signed to Sony Classics, is currently working on a new CD (his third), and he played last month for President Bush at the White House. "The White House gig was really nice," said Djangirov by phone from his home in San Diego, where he just wrapped up his high school junior year. "I'm in a jazz orchestra directed by Dr. Billy Taylor. And the whole orchestra was invited to play."

Djangirov has toured the United States with his trio (featuring bassist Gerald Spalts and drummer Todd Strait) and is looking forward to coming back to Salt Lake City. "It is a great place. The music fans know what good music is supposed to sound like, and I'm glad they liked me.

"It was beyond my expectations. There is so much support for jazz music there, it's unbelievable."

Seen early on as a prodigy, Djangirov has never let labels or expectations dampen his love for music. "I find balance, especially emotional balance, in the music," said Djangirov, who was born in Kyrgyzstan, in the former Soviet Union. His family relocated to Kansas City, Mo., where the young pianist began his jazz music studies. "I find expressing my feelings very therapeutic, and the music is a neutral vehicle to express what I'm feeling."

Djangirov started playing piano at age 5. "My father was a jazz musician, so there really wasn't any time when I didn't think I'd be playing music. But at 5, I don't think any child knows what they really want to do in life. Even at 10 or 12 they don't know which path they will take."

Still, in his early teens, Djangirov knew music was taking over his life. "The more I did it, the more I wanted to play."