Eliane Elias - Light My Fire

Styles: Brazilian Jazz
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:35
Size: 125,6 MB
Art: Front

(4:18)  1. Rosa Morena
(4:03)  2. Stay Cool
(5:19)  3. Aquele Abraço
(5:38)  4. Light My Fire
(4:00)  5. Isto Aqui O Que é
(4:31)  6. My Cherie Amour
(4:24)  7. Toda Menina Baiana
(3:28)  8. Bananeira
(5:12)  9. Made In Moonlight
(3:39) 10. Turn To Me (Samba Maracatu)
(5:13) 11. Take Five
(4:46) 12. What About The Heart (Bate Bate)

In a career that spans around 30 years and over 20 albums, singer and pianist Eliane Elias has come to epitomize a cool, sophisticated jazz sensibility, especially on the bossa nova songs of her native Brazil. On Light My Fire, she set out to extend the range of styles and grooves in her music and, in so doing, mixes Brazilian music with a couple of jazz standards and one or two famous pop and rock songs. 

The Brazilian songs, which comprise the majority of the album, are splendidly cool and generate a real sense of positivity and optimism. Gilberto Gil's "Aquele Abraço" and "Toda Menina Baiana" are especially effective; Gil and Elias forming a beautiful vocal partnership on both, while Elias' daughter, Amanda Brecker, adds backing vocals to "Toda Menina Baiana." Elias' own "What About The Heart (Bate Bate)" is romantic and upbeat, the pianist's sparkling solo carrying the tune through to the fadeout. Two jazz classics also get a makeover. Kenny Dorham's "Stay Cool," with Elias' own lyrics, also works beautifully; it's a slinky, seductive rendition, with Lawrence Feldman's flute adding to the sense of laidback, casual sensuality. Elias' rework of Paul Desmond's iconic "Take Five" is an atmospherically relaxed contrast to the original another success, despite a rather repetitive section replacing Joe Morello's famed drum solo and features the pianist's vocalese and Randy Brecker's muted, sparse, trumpet.

The Doors' classic "Light My Fire" also gets the slinky, laidback treatment, but works less well. Jim Morrison's original vocal was a yell of desperation, as if the act of "lighting his fire" was the most vital thing in the world; here, Elias sounds far less concerned. This apparent lack of connection is also present on two versions of Stevie Wonder's "My Cherie Amour," one sung in English, the other in French. The musicianship on Light My Fire is superb, with every player slipping effortlessly into the required groove. Even if a couple of numbers don't quite come off, it's still good to see established artists taking a few chances, and there's still plenty of music that does exactly what it should.~Bruce Lindsay(http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=40237#.UhaimX-Ac1I).

Personnel: Eliane Elias: vocals, piano; Gilberto Gil: vocals, guitar; Randy Brecker: trumpet; Oscar Castro-Neves: guitar; Romero Lubambo: guitar; Ross Traut: guitar; Lawrence Feldman: flute; Marc Johnson: bass; Marivalso dos Santos: percussion; Paulo Braga: drums; Rafael Barata: drums; Amanda Brecker: vocals (7).

Light My Fire

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Amanda Brecker - Blossom

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:28
Size: 92.7 MB
Styles: Jazz-pop vocals
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[2:25] 1. Blossom
[4:27] 2. So Far Away
[2:33] 3. You Can Close Your Eyes
[2:58] 4. Will You Love Me Tomorrow
[3:09] 5. Sweet Baby James
[3:56] 6. It's Too Late
[2:56] 7. Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
[3:08] 8. Long Ago And Far Away
[3:45] 9. Something In The Way He Moves
[3:20] 10. (You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman
[4:51] 11. You've Got A Friend
[2:54] 12. You Were Mine

Over a decade ago, Brit boy wonder Jamie Cullum chose to call his breakthrough album Pointless Nostalgic, a title that would be ideal for this sincere but rather senseless exercise in backward glancing from Amanda Brecker. A 27-year-old vocalist of impressive jazz lineage-she is the daughter of Randy Brecker and Eliane Elias-her intent, at least in part, was to mark the 40th anniversary of Carole King’s landmark Tapestry. Eagle-eyed King fans might note a mathematical discrepancy-Tapestry was released in 1971-but Brecker’s album actually debuted two years ago in Japan, where she has a sizeable following, and is only now surfacing Stateside.

Actually, just five of Blossom‘s dozen tracks are culled from Tapestry. Others, including the title tune, derive from various James Taylor albums of roughly the same vintage. Backing Brecker are drummer Russ Kunkel, from the original King sessions; bassist Lee Sklar, who accompanied King and Taylor on their Troubadour Reunion Tour; and keyboardist Larry Goldings, whose rich history includes work alongside Taylor. Their support is understatedly lovely.

Though the slight-voiced Brecker, whose leanings are decidedly more pop than jazz, does echo Taylor’s fragility and hints at King’s earthiness, she lacks the emotional depth of either. Producer Jesse Harris, who steered Norah Jones to platinum success, fails to generate the same frisson here. Apart from Taylor’s “Long Ago and Far Away,” which perfectly suits Brecker’s gossamer style, these remain pale replicas-tepid reminiscences of an era that predates her birth by some two decades. This is her parents’ nostalgia, not hers, and its second-hand nature shows too clearly. ~Christopher Loudon

Blossom mc
Blossom zippy

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Amanda Brecker - Brazilian Passion

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:54
Size: 107,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:43)  1. Ai Ai Ai Ai Ai
(3:23)  2. Felicidade
(3:00)  3. Meant to Be
(4:05)  4. Agua de Beber
(4:14)  5. On and On
(3:33)  6. In the Sun
(3:19)  7. Lembra de Mim
(3:04)  8. Fly Me to the Moon
(3:32)  9. Deny Deny
(3:43) 10. Thirsty
(3:03) 11. Nobre Vagabundo
(3:57) 12. That Dance
(3:12) 13. Autumn Leaves (Les Feuilles Mortes)

Amanda Brecker is a singer/songwriter from New York City. In 2008, she signed her first record deal with Birds Records in Japan and released her first album, entitled ”Here I Am.” Shortly after, her composition “Novo Lugar” became the theme song on the Japanese Television Series, “Giants of Beauty.” That same year in Japan, her album received the Gold Disc Award, Best New Talent Award and New Star Award by Swing Journal. She also received the New Star International Prize by ADLIB. “Here I Am” went on to become the #1 Best selling Jazz Vocal CD of the summer of 2008. Amanda’s second album, “Brazilian Passion,” was released in Japan in 2009. This album is a blend of Brazilian and American music, which represents Amanda’s background. Most of the songs on the album are influenced by Brazilian rhythms and features four of Amanda’s original compositions. Amongst well known covers, the album includes special guest and Brazilian legend, Ivan Lins, who sings on two of the tracks with Amanda. This album received the Gold Disc Award by Swing Journal, Japan in 2009.In November 2010, Amanda left Birds Records and signed with Universal Music Japan. She then recorded her third album, “Blossom”, produced by Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter Jesse Harris. “Blossom”, a concept proposed by Universal, is a tribute album dedicated to James Taylor and Carole King. Musicians on the album include some of James Taylor and Carole King’s working band: Lee Sklar (bass), Russ Kunkel (drums) and Larry Goldings (piano/keyboard), plus Jesse Harris (acoustic guitar) and Anthony Wilson (electric guitar). The album was released in Japan in May of 2011 in celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Carole King’s “Tapestry” album and will be released in the United States on February 26th, 2012. Amanda’s talent was notible at a very young age. At age 5, she easily invented melodies, harmonies and words of her own while singing and playing the piano, which displayed a natural inclination for songwriting. She comes from a long line of musicians and is the daughter of Brazilian pianist/singer Eliane Elias and the trumpeter Randy Brecker, two very prominent artists on the Jazz scene. Her uncle is the late saxophonist, Michael Brecker. When Amanda was 8 years old, she sang on Eliane Elias’s album “Fantasia,” interpreting Milton Nascimento’s “Ponta de Areia”, a performance that brought the composer to tears. Following the recording, Amanda performed live with Milton Nascimento in Paris when she was 9 years old. Prior to starting her solo career , she sang on several of Eliane Elias’s albums and performed live with her mother on various occasions. Amanda always composed at the piano. Just a couple years ago, she picked up the guitar, which opened up a new perspective for her as a songwriter. She is currently working on new material for a next album and preparing for the release of ‘Blossom’ in the US. https://www.last.fm/music/Amanda+Brecker/+wiki

Personnel:  Amanda Brecker  (Vocals, Piano);  Oscar Castro Neves (Acoustic guitar;  Ivan Lins (Vocals);  Andy Snitzer (Trumpets);  Ross Traut (Electric Guitar);  Randy Marchica (Drums);  Rafael Barata (Percussion);  Zeb Katz (Bass).

Brazilian Passion

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Amanda Brecker - Way to Be

Styles: Vocal, Latin Jazz
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:49
Size: 96,1 MB
Art: Front

(4:26)  1. Free
(3:13)  2. Ciranda (feat. Tiago Iorc)
(3:26)  3. Evolution of Love
(3:43)  4. De Noite na Cama
(2:50)  5. Way to Be
(3:24)  6. Papo Furado (feat. Projeto Quabales)
(2:46)  7. Long Way to Go
(3:22)  8. Gimme Your Sunshine
(3:31)  9. Running
(4:11) 10. Far Away You Are
(3:08) 11. Águas de Março
(3:44) 12. Voa

Amanda Brecker is a singer/songwriter from New York City. In 2008, she signed her first record deal with Birds Records in Japan and released her first album, entitled ”Here I Am.” Shortly after, her composition “Novo Lugar” became the theme song on the Japanese Television Series, “Giants of Beauty.” That same year in Japan, her album received the Gold Disc Award, Best New Talent Award and New Star Award by Swing Journal. She also received the New Star International Prize by ADLIB. “Here I Am” went on to become the #1 Best selling Jazz Vocal CD of the summer of 2008. Amanda’s second album, “Brazilian Passion,” was released in Japan in 2009. This album is a blend of Brazilian and American music, which represents Amanda’s background. Most of the songs on the album are influenced by Brazilian rhythms and features four of Amanda’s original compositions. Amongst well known covers, the album includes special guest and Brazilian legend, Ivan Lins, who sings on two of the tracks with Amanda. This album received the Gold Disc Award by Swing Journal, Japan in 2009. In November 2010, Amanda left Birds Records and signed with Universal Music Japan. She then recorded her third album, “Blossom”, produced by Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter Jesse Harris. “Blossom”, a concept proposed by Universal, is a tribute album dedicated to James Taylor and Carole King. Musicians on the album include some of James Taylor and Carole King’s working band: Lee Sklar (bass), Russ Kunkel (drums) and Larry Goldings (piano/keyboard), plus Jesse Harris (acoustic guitar) and Anthony Wilson (electric guitar). The album was released in Japan in May of 2011 in celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Carole King’s “Tapestry” album. Two years later, the album was released in the United States on February 26th, 2012.  Amanda’s talent was notible at a very young age.  At age 5, she easily invented melodies, harmonies and words of her own while singing and playing the piano, which displayed a natural inclination for songwriting.  She comes from a long line of musicians and is the daughter of Brazilian pianist/singer Eliane Elias and the trumpeter Randy Brecker, two very prominent artists on the Jazz scene. 

Her uncle is the late saxophonist, Michael Brecker. When Amanda was 8 years old, she sang on Eliane Elias’s album “Fantasia,” interpreting Milton Nascimento’s “Ponta de Areia”, a performance that brought the composer to tears. Following the recording, Amanda performed live with Milton Nascimento in Paris when she was 9 years old. Prior to starting her solo career , she sang on several of Eliane Elias’s albums and performed live with her mother on various occasions. Amanda began writing songs on the piano when she was fifteen years old. She picked up the guitar three years ago, which opened up a whole new perspective for her as a songwriter. She recently recorded a new album entitled “Way To Be”, which is a blend of Brazilian/American contemporary pop music infused with percussive rhythms from different areas of Brazil. The album was recorded in Los Angeles with producers Jesse Harris and Mario Caldato (Bebel Gilberto, Beastie Boys, Vanessa Da Mata, Marisa Monte, Jack Johnson, Planet Hemp), and includes many original compositions by Amanda Brecker. Included on the album is a duet, ‘Ciranda’,’ with Brazilian artist, Tiago Iorc. She also recorded a track, ‘Papo Furado,’ with the participation of Projeto Quabales from Salvador, Bahia. “Way To Be” was released in Japan through Universal Records on July 9th. Brazil and US release to be announced. Stay tuned for updates! http://www.amandabrecker.com/site/bio

Personnel:  Vocals, Acoustic Guitar – Amanda Elias Brecker;  Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar – João Pedro Mourão;  Drums, Percussion, Electronics – Mauro Refosco;  Electric Bass, Electric Upright Bass, Cello – Gabriel Noel;  Electric Guitar – Anthony Wilson (tracks: 1,8,11,12);  Electric Piano, Piano – Sam Barsh;  Tenor Saxophone – Ada Rovatti (tracks: 4,6); Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Randy Brecker (tracks: 4, 5);  Twelve-String Guitar – Jesse Harris (tracks: 3,4,7,9,10,12);  Vocals – Tiago Iorc (tracks: 2,12)

Way to Be

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