Jon Nakamatsu is a rockstar. While his classical piano recordings might not be the No. 1 download on iTunes, to a sold-out crowd Sunday in Capistrano Hall, the music was an experience they will not soon forget.

The title of “rockstar” should not be taken lightly. It is an honor bestowed upon only those who inspire die-hard loyalty in their followers. These followers are the people who, when asked, will talk forever about the second or third time they saw Nakamatsu at Sacramento State, as he has made several stops here during his world tours.

Dakin Chamberlain graduated from Sac State’s music department in spring 2010, but he never misses a visit from Nakamatsu. Sunday marked his fourth time seeing him at Sac State, and he said the crowds are always huge. He remembered his second Nakamatsu show was particularly packed.

“It was sold out to the point where he had chairs on the stage next to him,” Chamberlain said.

Those in attendance Sunday all found seats, but it was still sold out well before the scheduled start time.

A dedicated fan base is attracted to musicians who bring something special to the stage. Looking at Nakamatsu’s admirers, he has that in spades.

Several concertgoers noted how well the pianist controls his sound expertly using differences in emphasis and volume levels to express feeling in the music. Nakamatsu’s mastery of sound control allows emotion to shine through, which is a rare gift.

Senior piano performance major Boris Karpuk had never seen Nakamatsu before, although he had heard a lot about the Van Cliburn gold medalist. He really enjoyed the first piece, written by French Baroque composer Jean Philippe Rameau. He described Nakamatsu’s style in this piece as delicate and intimate, with a warm tone.

“It was personal,” Karpuk said. “It was like he was having a relationship with the audience.”

Nakamatsu’s articulation and his speed on the keyboard are also special. Throughout the show, especially in a piece by Johannes Brahms he did for an encore, he featured sequences of rapid-fire notes, and each one was pronounced perfectly, not blurring at all with those around it.

Chamberlain said this is one of his favorite things about seeing Nakamatsu.

“His thinking is so clear,” he said. “It is the same as being a very articulate speaker.”

Those who know piano know Nakamatsu. They see him the first time because his reputation preceeds him, and they see him the third time because his skill and natural talent make for a show worth catching.

Alex Grotewohl can be reached at [email protected]