PRESS

“HAZAR can only be compared to his great inspiration Paco de Lucia.”
Music critic, Karsten Rube

“This is one of the finest acoustic guitar recordings I’ve heard in a very long time.
The extraordinary way Hazar plays sounds so easy and smooth, but much of it should be technically impossible.
His long and inspired ‘runs’ are performed flawlessly and with much attention to the song’s melody.
This impressive album lifts Hazar and his guitar brilliance into the realm of musical greatness.”
Jazz Journalist, Dee Dee McNeil, September 26th, 2020

“Hazar is a superb acoustic guitarist. He solos in breathtaking fashion. This is his first recording on the instrument, which he has inevitably already mastered. Undoubtedly word of Hazar’s technical and melodic abilities will spread quickly.”
Making A Scene (Issue 281), Jim Hynes, September 17th, 2020

“The release of Hazar’s latest album Reincarnated would serve as a glorious and transcendent, gently swaying yet rhythmically explosive introduction to a classically influenced jazz talent. A brilliant showcase for Hazar’s rich string intricacies and speedy technique as well as his soul deep emotional sensibilities, the nine track set is flush with intricate, dynamic re-imaginings of classics.”
The JW Vibe, Jonathan Widran, October 19th, 2020

“If it bugs you that the guys in Trio (Al Di Meola, Paco de Lucia, John McLaughlin) got old and aren’t making anything new, fear not.
Hazar is such a sure fingered, confident guitarist that he even invited Al DiMeola to play with him on this set. McLaughlin move over.
One of the most killer acoustic guitar records you are going to come across, he even tackles some Trio repertoire (with DiMeola in tow)
and delivers the last word on the subject. It doesn’t get any better than this.”
Midwest Record, Chris Spector, September 22nd, 2020

“Brilliantly masterful jazz guitar Hazar – Reincarnated: Your eyes and ears are going to be pleasantly surprised.
You’ve never seen fingers fly like that. A fascinating artist.”
Contemporary Fusion Reviews, Dick Metcalf, September 14th, 2020

“Hazar shows an outstanding virtuosity and masters a congenial interplay, alternating with sonorous melodies,
fast solo lines and breathtaking technique, while always adding new emotional depth to his playing.”
Exclusive Magazine, Anne Carlini, September 2020

“No matter how heated Hazar’s playing becomes or how speedy his runs, he always keeps the melody in mind.”
Jazz Guitar Today, Issue September 2020

“Hazar deserves mad praise first for his virtuosity on the saz, then for switching over to acoustic guitar and tearing it up down a different highway.”
Jazz Times, (Issue 281), Andrew Hamlin, October 20th, 2020

“Hazar’s style of playing offers unbelievably stupendous fluency, especially in the quiet passages, musical maturity with depth and expression. Impressive!”
Akustik Gitarre Magazine, Issue 05-2020

“Hazar’s musicality is profound and he appears on his way to the top of the list of gifted guitarists.
Superb musicianship and pure class, this recording is destined for awards and broad audience appeal.”
Author Grady Harp, September 14th, 2020

“Virtuoso also on six strings.”
Music review, Jens Hausmann, July 31st, 2020

“Our next project with HAZAR could be ‘incredible strings‘.”
Al Di Meola

“I don’t know anyone who has such a great talent to play a stringed instrument
and as long as HAZAR doesn’t play flamenco, I will be reassured.”
Rafael Cortés 2020

“What Hazar plays should be technically impossible
– Hazar nevertheless plays it, and with a jaw-dropping lightness and ingenuity – as this stunning album testifies.”
Acoustic Music 2009

“Hazar is probably the only virtuoso in the world to play Paganini’s Caprices on three-strings.”
Film Production Kaleidoscope 2006

“Paganini on saz.”
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung 2009

“Hazar makes a special and challenging crossover to world music, by playing the Saz.
The combination of this instrument with such an orchestra is rare, if not the first time ever.”
Committee Impressions of Jazz Blue and Jazz Masters Festival 2010

“Hazar is one of the best saz players of all time.”
Saz legend Prof Dr. Talip Özkan, Paris 2007

“After listening to Hazar on the saz, I can die in peace.”
Saz legend Arif Sag, Stuttgart 2012

“We need more musicians like Hazar, who takes the long-necked lute from the ethnic ghetto and from the musical into the concert hall.”
WDR Birger Gesthuiesen 2009

“Nobody has ever played the saz that way.”
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Ulrich Olshausen, 18.08.2009

“The Paganini of the saz.”
Acoustic Music Zeitschrift 2009

“Often the ears of the listener hardly follow,when Hazar’s fingers sprint on the saz, the long-necked lute.”
Audio 07/09, Peter Steder

“Saz on world class level.”
Zeitschrift Rondo 2009

Akustik Gitarre Magazine – Interview, Issue 05-2020

HAZAR featuring AL DI MEOLA – “REINCARNATED” 
Jazz Journalist, Dee Dee McNeil, September 26th, 2020

This journalist listens to a lot of guitarists on recordings and ‘live’. I have to say, this is one of the finest acoustic guitar recordings I’ve heard in a very long time. Known professionally as “Hazar,” he has been lauded for his outstanding virtuosity on his instrument and he has received international acclaim. He holds a Master’s degree in jazz with saz. Saz is a Middle Eastern string instrument, sometimes referred to as a Baglama. A Baglama can have a short or long neck and has seven strings and they are divided into courses of two, two and three. Actually, the saz that Hazar mastered had only three strings and a long neck. His microtonal music and polyrhythms on those strings was inspired by Paco de Lucia. After mastering the ‘saz,’ Hazar was encouraged by John McLaughlin, chatting at a concert in Cologne, that he should switch to acoustic guitar. 

“I had nothing more to tell with the saz,” Hazar shared in a recent article.

Consequently, we are blessed with this album that he calls “Reincarnated” because, of course, he has been reborn musically moving from his love of ‘saz’ to his accomplished and challenging performance on the acoustic guitar. Hazar has a sound that is extremely classical in a very technical way and a great deal more complicated. The extraordinary way Hazar plays sounds so easy and smooth, but much of it should be technically impossible.  This journalist finds herself constantly verbalizing out loud, in my listening room, “Whoa!” His long and inspired ‘runs’ are performed flawlessly and with much attention to the song’s melody. Beginning with his recording of “Made for Wesley” I am stunned by the intricate guitar lines and the way Hazar sets up the rhythm on his nimble strings. Al Di Meola plays Cajon on the Chick Corea tune, “Spain.” There is some controversy about whether the cajon drums were adaptations of the African box drums by slaves when they were banned from having instruments of communication.  The word ‘cajon’ means box or drawer.

“I would especially like to thank the great guitarist, Al Di Meola, who has always been an inspiration to me for his contributions to this record,” Hazar states in his liner notes.

The Charlie Parker composition, “Donna Lee” races onto the scene like a New York Taxi driver on the open highway.  Hazar has perfectly blended Eastern and Western music, enhanced by the African-American invention of jazz. This is an impressive album I will play over and over again. By example, it lifts Hazar and his guitar brilliance into the realm of musical greatness.

HAZAR Reincarnated (featuring Al DiMeola) 
Making A Scene (Issue 281), Jim Hynes, September 17th, 2020

Any time there’s a chance to a great guitarist play Luiz Bonfa’s iconic “Black Orpheus,” that’s reason enough to investigate an album from a new artist, at least to this writer. Hazar is a superb acoustic guitarist who teams with luminary guitarist Al DiMeola, who together take us through bossa-novas, swing, bebop, and hints of flamenco.

Hazar is relatively undiscovered in North America so it feels gratifying to be spreading some awareness. Hazar grew up in Germany, spent years on the saz, a three-stringed, long-necked lute, microtonal music, and polyrhythms, inspired by Paco de Lucia. Hazar blended Eastern and Western music on his acclaimed Virtuoso album, surprising string experts by playing Niccolo Paganini’s “Caprices” on three strings. At the behest of John McLaughlin, he then took up the acoustic guitar. This is his first recording on the instrument, which he has inevitably already mastered.  Hence, the album title.

“Made for Wesley” opens, somewhat reminiscent of Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “No More Blues.” You’ll quickly detect his blistering runs on the guitar but with the melody solidly intact. On Chick Corea’s “Spain” DiMeola (for the only track he appears on) contributes guitar and the cajon, a percussion instrument. “Boss Dorado” is both a bossa nova and inventive jazz piece, again displaying the facility of Hazar in rapid tempo. “Black Orpheus” is, of course, magical. Bireli Lagrene’s jazz waltz, “Made In France,” a riveting showcase for Hazar.

Hazar’s take on the well-worn “Summertime” shows his creative side and stellar interplay with the pianist while the Brazilian oriented “For Sephora” is further evidence of his versatility, crystal guitar tone, and dazzling speed. The latter is obviously a requisite for Bird’s conic “Donna Lee” where Hazar is way beyond simply fast. It’s difficult to imagine fingers moving so rapidly but you can see it in the accompany Bu-ray which is packaged with the deluxe set. Hazar solos in breathtaking fashion on the traditional “Le Vieux Tzigane,” where every note comes through with utter clarity, bringing an end to a very quick 40 minutes, that will have most listeners quickly hitting the replay button.

Hazar’s Reincarnated is elegantly relaxing. Undoubtedly word of Hazar’s technical and melodic abilities will spread quickly.

HAZAR feat. Al Di Meola, Reincarnated
The JW Vibe, Jonathan Widran, October 19th, 2020

The release of Hazar’s latest album Reincarnated would serve as a glorious and transcendent, gently swaying yet rhythmically explosive introduction to a classically influenced jazz talent – if the German born acoustic guitarist wasn’t already a master on the much less known instrument known as the saz, a three stringed long-necked lute.

Inspired by Paco de Lucia, he spent years mastering that instrument as well as microtonal music and polyrhythms. His perfectly titled 2009 album Virtuoso with bassist Carles Benevant earned him praise as “The Paganini of Saz.” Then one day, after a concert in Cologne, fusion guitar legend John McLaughlin told him, “If you want to show your skills, you should play guitar.”

A brilliant showcase for Hazar’s rich string intricacies and speedy technique as well as his soul deep emotional sensibilities, the nine track set is flush with intricate, dynamic re-imaginings of classics by Chick Corea, Luis Bonfa, The Gershwins, Charlie Parker, Bireli Lagrene and others. Corea’s iconic “Spain” is rendered as a snappy yet sensuous duet with fellow guitar great Al Di Meola (who doubles on cajon), while Bonfa’s ultra-romantic “Black Orpheus” is all lush and balmy atmospheric breeze. Another highlight is “Summertime,” played thousands of times but never balancing lyrical intimacy and lively piano and percussion driven surprises so well.

The opening track, “Made For Wesley” sets the tone with an artful blend of longing lovelorn expressions and Hazar’s trademark intricate improvisations. The final two tracks on Reincarnated, the jumpy romp through Parker’s “Donna Lee” and the soft spoken, sparsely arranged traditional closer “Le Vieux Tzigane,” perfectly represent the wide range of emotions and pure virtuosity. A special shout out to McLaughlin, whose insight and inspiration was the impetus for Hazar to spread his wings and grace us with a guitar debut that grows more wondrous with each listen.

HAZAR’s new album Reincarnated 
Midwest Record, Chris Spector, September 22nd, 2020

Some records make you say ‘yow’ and some take you all the way to ‘yowzah!” If it bugs you that the guys in Trio got old and aren’t making anything new, fear not. Hazar is such a sure fingered, confident guitarist that he even invited Al DiMeola to play with him on this set. McLaughlin move over. One of the most killer acoustic guitar records you are going to come across, he even tackles some Trio repertoire (with DiMeola in tow) and delivers the last word on the subject. It doesn’t get any better than this. He’s so sure of himself that he’s released this in a double disc format packing in almost every super audio format you can think of to make sure you don’t miss a note.

Brilliantly masterful jazz guitar Hazar – Reincarnated
Contemporary Fusion Reviews, Dick Metcalf, September 14th, 2020

Brilliantly masterful jazz guitar Hazar – Reincarnated: Your eyes and ears are going to be pleasantly surprised as you watch the trailer from Hazar’s brilliantly masterful jazz guitar release…you’ve never seen fingers FLY like that, have you… I know I haven’t… if you want to see many more, be sure to subscribe to Hazar’s YouTube channel… I did it right away. As you spin the beautiful “Bossa Dorado“, you will realize that you’re in the presence of a true master! I have no doubt that this tune will be getting HUGE amounts of airplay on jazz stations around the globe!
In addition to Hazar’s splendid guitar work, you’ll also hear Al Di Meola – guitar, cajon; the interplay between Hazar and Al on the Chick Corea’s “Spain” is just superb, and flawless recording picks up every single note they play. The pertinent percussion on the intro to “Made In France” had me tapping my fingers and toes immediately… this is the kind of tune that just sticks in your head, and you’ll find yourself coming back to it over and over again!
Of the nine sonic marvels offered up, it was the closer, “Lex Vieux Tziganes” that got my vote for personal favorite… be sure you listen to this with your headphones on, so you can catch every enchanting nuance. I give Hazar a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating, with an “EQ” (energy quotient) score of 4.99 for this absolute gem.

For those not in the know, on his new album Reincarnated, Hazar shows an outstanding virtuosity and masters a congenial interplay, alternating with sonorous melodies, fast solo lines and breathtaking technique, while always adding new emotional depth to his playing.

More than ten years ago Hazar caused a sensation with his album Virtuoso, on which he played Paganini, Mozart and Bach with the saz on only three strings. His artistry with long-necked lutes in perfect form, Hazar turned to the guitar at the height of his career.

As the title of Hazar’s album suggests, Reincarnated marks a new era in his life, that is based on an impressive background.
Also featuring special guest guitar virtuoso Al Di Meola, this quite magnificent album opens with the stunningly profound guitar mastery of ‘Made for Wesley’ and backs that up with one of the albums stand out tracks, the delightfully perky ‘Spain’ (featuring Al Di Meola).
We then get the, at first, piano-led, then the gentle acoustic guitar work of the immaculately orchestrated ‘Bossa Dorado,’ the playfully funky ‘Black Orpheus,’ and another stand out cut, the warmly inviting, yet vibrant tempo of ‘Made In France.’ Next up is a delectable rendition of Gershwin’s evergreen ‘Summertime’ which is itself backed by the free flowing ‘For Sephora,’ his wondrous reinterpretation of Charlie Parker’s ‘Donna Lee,’ with the album gracefully closing on the instrumentalists virtuoso skills coming to the fore on the breathtaking ‘Le Vieux Tzigane’

Reincarnated: New Release from Acoustic Guitarist Hazar feat. Al Di Meola
Jazz Guitar Today, Issue September 2020

On ‘Reincarnated’, Hazar interacts with the masterful guitarist Al Di Meola.

The set begins with “Made For Wesley” which has a melody a little reminiscent of the opening theme of Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “No More Blues.” Here, as throughout the set, no matter how heated Hazar’s playing becomes or how speedy his runs, he always keeps the melody in mind. On Chick Corea’s “Spain,” his playing is accompanied by Di Meola who plays the cajon, a percussion instrument. “Bossa Dorado” is a highly appealing melody that is both a bossa-nova and a creative jazz piece. Hazar sounds relaxed throughout, even when he is playing rapid lines.
More than ten years ago Hazar caused a sensation with his album Virtuoso, on which he played Paganini, Mozart and Bach with the saz on only three strings. His artistry with long-necked lutes in perfect form, Hazar turned to the guitar at the height of his career.

A charming revival of “Black Orpheus”, an energetic version of Bireli Lagrene’s jazz waltz “Made In France,” a fresh rendition of “Summertime,” and the Brazilian-flavored melody “For Sephora” display Hazar’s virtuosity and creative abilities. Reincarnated concludes with a dazzling version of Charlie Parker’s “Donna Lee” and a quietly emotional solo showcase for the guitarist on “Le Vieux Tzigane.