The 2009 death of electric guitar icon Les Paul<\/a> can be credited with inspiring the first duo performance by jazz guitar master Pat Martino<\/a> and former San Diego piano phenom Eldar.<\/a> In late 2009, the two teamed up for a tribute gig at Iridium, the New York jazz club where Paul had performed almost every Monday for more than 12 years.<\/p>\n The fact that Martino is 42 years older than Eldar, who turned 25 in January, also inspired the duo\u2019s 2010 concerts as part of Jazz at Lincoln Center\u2019s \u201cGenerations in Jazz Festival\u201d in New York.<\/p>\n On Thursday night, Martino and Eldar (who does not use his last name, Djangirov, professionally) perform here at downtown\u2019s all-ages Anthology. The date is part of a two-city, three-show West Coast tour that marks their most extensive road trip together thus far. Eldar’s most recent performances here were last month with the San Diego Symphony and singer Jennifer Holliday.<\/p>\n \u201cPat tours a lot, and I tour a lot, so our collaborations only happen when we\u2019re both off the road at the same time,\u201d Eldar, a 2005 graduate of San Diego\u2019s Francis Parker High School, said from New York.<\/p>\n Martino and Eldar are both dazzling performers whose remarkable technical prowess is balanced by their impeccable musical taste and soulful delivery. Both celebrate and extend the traditions of jazz on a nightly basis. And both relish spontaneous instrumental interactions, which require listening as intently as they play.<\/p>\n \u201cSome of the tunes are pretty free and organic, and others are more or less arranged,\u201d said Eldar, who was only 17 when he was signed by Sony, the world\u2019s largest record company.<\/p>\n \u201cWe play original compositions, such as Pat\u2019s \u2018The Great Stream,\u2019 and standards, including (Bud Powell\u2019s) \u2018In Walked Bud,\u2019 (Thelonious Monk\u2019s) \u2018Round Midnight\u2019 and (Wes Montgomery\u2019s) \u2018Twisted Blues.\u2019 Playing with Pat, you always have to be on your toes. This has been a great and very satisfying experience for me, and I think we\u2019ll keep playing together a few times each year.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Pat Martino and Eldar<\/strong><\/p>\n When:<\/strong> 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 22<\/p>\n Where:<\/strong> Anthology, 1337 India Street, downtown<\/p>\n Tickets:<\/strong> $10-$44<\/p>\n Phone:<\/strong> (619) 595-0300<\/p>\n Online:<\/strong> anthologysd.com<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/anthologysd.com\/press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/jazz2_r620x349.jpg\" "\\"jazz2_r620x349\\"")
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