ENVER IZMAILOV

ENVER IZMAILOV

guitar

Enver Izmailov is a remarkable guitarist.

He developed a tapping technique long before ever hearing about Stanley Jordan. His playing encompasses Oriental and Balkan folk music, rock, Indian music etc. Western classical and the improvisation of jazz; he can also make his guitar sound like a tabla or saz and is not afraid to leave space.
Use the elements from folk music of Crimean Tatars as well as absorbing the influences of Oriental music, Indian and Balkans, playing difficult rhythms: 7/8, 5/8, 9/8, 11/16, 13/16.

Started playing guitar at the age of 15. 1973 – he had graduated the Music school (basson) in Fergana. He actively paricipated in rock and jazz groups.

1980 – 1988 – he played with the “SATO” group in Fergana. “SATO” have recorded two Lp’s: ‘Efsane’ (“Legend”) 1986 and “Give your love for a friend in a circle” 1987 (“MELODIA” label, Tashkent). 1989 – he moved back to his native land Crimea. 1990 he had graduated at the Tashkent University with a degree in correspondence, specialty: “the conductor of folk music orchestras”.

1990 – 1998 – took parts in music festivals, tours in USA, Germany, Holland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Bulgaria, Estonia, Russia, Moldavia, Turkey, Ukraine and other countries, participated radio and TV programs. He was giving instruction about guitar style “tapping-technique” (class master) in high music schools of the “Sibelius Academy” (Finland).

He was the first-prize-winner of the First European International Guitarist Competition, which was held on the 20-24, August 1995 in Lausanne (Switzerland). He concluded a publicity-endorsement contract with the “BLADE” -guitar company of Gary Levinson for production of electric guitars. Besides solo performances he took part in duets, trios, quartets… Joint CD-recordings together with foreign musicians. He appeared on the same stage with the most famous guitar players, such as John McLaughlin, Mike Stern, John Scofield, Stanley Jordan. Enver IZMAILOV was voted for the Musician Of The Year (1995) by the Ukrainian music critics.

DISCOGRAPHY

“At A Fergana Bazzar” 1991, Solo, Live in Münster
“The Eastern Legend” (RDM / 1991) Solo
“Kara Deniz / Black Sea ” mit Burhan Öçal (Unit Records / 1992)
“Dancing Over The Moon” mit Jeoff Warren 1995
“Yarimada / Peninsula” (RDM / 1997)
“Minaret” Crimea Art Trio (Symphocarre / 1998)

REVIEWS

“By two handed hammering on he is making the guitar a new instrument which is in no way inferior to the polyhone possibilities of the cembalo. Izmailov’s tours through baroque quotations, Slavian folklore and sound excesses are technically and artistically pure magic.”

VIDEOS

PROJECTS

Crimea Art Trio
Enver Izmailov Solo
Black Sea Trio