This is a very interesting book, and it has unusually visionary ambitions for a Black Library title. I read these books from time to time, and this one really drew me in as something different.
The depiction of the eldar is majestic and touching, and the tone is elegantly elegaic. Set many millennia before the ‘present day’ of WH40K, Eldar Prophecy establishes a mythology for the eldar of Kaelor, of the kind we have never before seen in BL fiction.
In some ways, it’s difficult to review this book as a Black Library title, since it seems to transcend the boundaries of ‘tie-in’ fiction. I really think that any readers of sci-fi (and especially of space opera) will find this book interesting and enjoyable. In fact, perhaps non-BL readers will actually like it more?
Like much (but not all) of Goto’s stuff, this is not the book for you if you’re just looking for pulp and violence (although there’s some of that too!). But if you’re excited about the eldar, alien species or just want something new in the BL-world, or if you want something that is carefully paced and intricately crafted, then this is definitely for you.
Not high literature, but certainly a cut above the usual pulp stuff.
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South Wales Echo (Cardiff, Wales) - Iris winners for Dublin; NEWSBRIEF
July 10, 2010 --
* AWARD-WINNING films from last year's Iris Festival will be screened in Dublin this month.
Prize winners from Cardiff will see their...
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Whether you are a Blue Note veteran or a just a newbee to the jazz scene, this recording will blow you away; Eldar is masterful beyond his years.
Nice to listen to, but enjoyed the standards more. Great job for a young, up-and-coming jazz great.
I first knew of Eldar when he was 13. By 16, he could hold his own, technically, harmonically and rhythmically with just about anyone. When he came out with the “Eldar” album, and I first heard Sweet Georgia Brown, I absolutely could not believe my ears. His tempo on that track exceeds anything I ever heard from Oscar or Tatum. And yet every note is crystal clear. And yet he can take a tune like “Nature Boy” and give it a gentle, moving treatment a la Bill Evans.
I saw Eldar in person at a Florida concert in early 2007. After the concert, my wife and I talked with him for quite a while. He was extremely polite–more so than most Americans. My wife was in a wheel chair at the time and at a moment where she teared up a bit, Eldar stepped over to her and gave her a hug. My wife spent a fair amount of time in Russia and the two of them hit it off quite well. I mention this because we’ve all seen musical prodigies before with awesome talents, but many times, arrogant attitudes–difficult to talk to (Keith Jarrett perhaps?). Eldar was as nice and mature as anyone I’ve ever met at that age.
I have been a jazz pianist since the late 1960′s. My idols have always been Art Tatum and Oscar Peterson. I know how hard it is to swing–to play rapid lines in perfect rhythm, maintaining the groove, regardless of the tempo. I know better than most just how truly incredible Eldar really is. He could emulate anyone’s playing if he chose to. Most jazz pianists–if they practiced several hours a day for the rest of their lives–would not scale to the heights that Eldar has already reached.
This live at the Blue Note doesn’t disappoint at all. One extraordinary track after another. And the musicians have remarkable affinity and creativity together. I recommend this, and all of Eldar’s albums whole-heartedly, although I’m a bit disappointed with his recent forays into electronics. But like Herbie, Chick, Zawinul and many others, he’s just being creative, and has a long lifetime to do his “thing”, so I support his different directions. But I will always cherish his acoustic output the most.
Time will tell, but I think Eldar will someday rank with Oscar and Art as the greatest jazz pianists of all time.
Obviously very accomplished technically.Unfortunately and not surprising inthis age group too imbued with own composing skills.Consequently much of the cd is a steady state of endless notes an chords in rapid fire succession.
I suppose there is very little middle ground with Eldar. Most people I’ve talked to in the jazz music world either love him or hate him. I’m still undecided, but after listening to this at the library, I liked the album enough to buy my own copy. Nothing Eldar does is ever half way. The guy has got hammers for fingers, and it’s a good thing he only has ten of them, because he uses every finger whenever he can. So, yes, those ten-note voicings going up and down the register can be wearying after a while, but, there is never a shortage of something to listen for or some surprising line sneaking in where it isn’t expected. I guess for a snapshot of contemporary jazz piano, this is as good an album as any. If you buy it and don’t like it, don’t feel bad. I think this is one of those CD’s/artists that is better to have listened to and disliked than to never have heard at all.
Eldar is on his game on this one. If you like driving at night jazz you’ll love this collection. If you like Eldar this will blow your mind. His skills and his music comes to a perfect balance on Virtue. The order of the selections flows from number to each wonderful number at the perfect pace. A must for all Jazz and Eldar fans.
Eldar New 2009 Cd is wonderful. Tracks 3,5 & 11 I didnt like. I liked tracks 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9, & 10 all thoeses Tracks Excellent.
Very rich, with jagged, dark edges. Have listened many times and am continuing to discover.
I was predisposed to ‘Insensitive’ — I’d heard him perform it live before the album came out, and it stuck with me for hours after the concert. What a gem. (Tho I just noticed the coda to Insensitive is kissing cousins to the coda of The Beatles’ “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)”.)
This album is not going to be for everyone. I can say for myself that it’s one of my favorites. Highly recommended, and catch him live if he comes to your area.
Just caught a stellar live performance by Eldar in Long Beach, CA at the ‘Backstage at Vault 350′ Venue. What a refreshing new contribution to straight-ahead jazz! He’s genuine. He’s real. And he’s so, so naturally talented. Not just trained, but talented! He feels what he plays. Something that I’ve been missing in much of the newer talent. I’m very impressed with Eldar and the young men that accompany him on bass and drums, and will purchase several copies of this CD as gifts for my true jazz friends.
There is certainly no disputing this young man’s virtuosity. Sadly, this recording is more or less the same song rehashed over and over. It’s a bit remarkable that someone with this amount of talent brings so little to the table regarding compositional depth. It’s really just too much “happy face”, and almost Teschian in nature. This kid should take a page from the likes of Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Brad Mehldau or even Hiromi. Hopefully he’ll grow into a relevant artistic place commensurate with all that talent…
I first saw this artist on a late night talk show and rarely do I “sit up and take notice” of such artists but this one caught my ear immediately. the CD was NOT a disappointment…it features beautiful arrangements and a nice selection of material. Everytime my CD player “hits” this CD….I sit up and take notice…it is just a wonderful!!! Nice to see the tradition of fine jazz continues.
Living in KC myself i cannot believe I have not heard of eldar until just recently. Im not a true jazz or contemporary jazz fanatic but this album shows incredible potential. Granted the ballads are generic but this guy has genuine intentions in his music and hopefully he will grow into what he has the potential to be. Overall a good cd with stints of greatness.
Having the mastery of exceptional keyboard speed is fine in and of itself. Eldar has this in spades. But without a sense of lyricism and rhythm creativity, this talent anomaly can wear thin quickly. Eldar’s talent will not wear thin anytime in the next several decades. What a fresh star I look forward to enjoying for a long time. As good as the percussion work is by Ali Jackson, there are a couple of selections where it is a bit heavy-handed and consequently a bit distracting from Eldar’s amazing presentation. Small criticism however. This CD is a joy!
This is an amazing album, made all the more amazing by the fact this guy is young… we saw him open for a late night Prince concert for two days before New Years and were in awe…
For the 1 reviewer out of 25 who was hypercritical of Eldar’s performances as lacking “soul”, either the rest of us are crazy or he should rethink his position. I’ve been a professional pianist for about 32 years and I have never heard anyone master the piano to the extent Eldar does- he is a combination of Vladamir Horowitz, Oscar Peterson, Errol Garner, Bill Evans, you name it- he can play it, and with his own personal signature as well. After hearing him at Yoshi’s, I invited 25 friends (many of them professional musicians with years of experience) to hear Eldar in October at the Legion of Honor Museum in SF and not one of them diagreed with my assessment. A virtuoso like this comes along once in a lifetime and there is bound to be one critic who, unable to dispute the remarkable technique, falls back on the tired comment about “soul”. If those same criticss heard the same quality coming out of the old masters’ hands, then suddenly it would have soul. I guarantee you, unless Eldar gets in a car wreck or self-destructs on drugs or some other foolish vice, he is destined to become one of the all-time greats in the world of jazz piano.
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.
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!!
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!
Eldar is on his game on this one. If you like driving at night jazz you’ll love this collection. If you like Eldar this will blow your mind. His skills and his music comes to a perfect balance on Virtue. The order of the selections flows from number to each wonderful number at the perfect pace. A must for all Jazz and Eldar fans.
Very rich, with jagged, dark edges. Have listened many times and am continuing to discover.
I was predisposed to ‘Insensitive’ — I’d heard him perform it live before the album came out, and it stuck with me for hours after the concert. What a gem. (Tho I just noticed the coda to Insensitive is kissing cousins to the coda of The Beatles’ “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)”.)
This album is not going to be for everyone. I can say for myself that it’s one of my favorites. Highly recommended, and catch him live if he comes to your area.