Showing posts with label Eliane Elias. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eliane Elias. Show all posts

Saturday, October 12, 2024

Eliane Elias - Mirror Mirror

Styles: Piano Jazz
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 36:16
Size: 84,7 MB
Art: Front

( 6:07) 1. Armando's Rhumba
( 6:27) 2. Esta Tarde Vi Llover
( 5:47) 3. Blue Bossa
(11:33) 4. Corazo´n Parti´o.mp3
( 4:53) 5. Mirror Mirror
( 6:45) 6. Sabor A Mi
( 6:15) 7. There Will Never Be Another You

Multi GRAMMY® winning pianist/singer/composer Eliane Elias’ latest album MIRROR MIRROR on Candid Records is a lifelong musical dream come true an extraordinary piano duet recording of Eliane with the late legendary jazz great Chick Corea, and famed Cuban pianist Chucho Valdés. While her highly successful recordings have predominantly featured her alluring voice and piano mastery, the piano has always been her first love and working with these two incredible icons was a rare opportunity to record in a two-piano setting, something she hasn’t done in many years. For the world-renowned performer, this organically created collection represents more than simply a culmination of an illustrious career that includes nearly 30 recordings, over 2.3 million albums sold, nine total GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY nominations, a GRAMMY win for Best Latin Jazz Album (Made in Brazil, 2016) and a Latin GRAMMY win for Best Latin Jazz/Jazz Album (Dance of Time, 2017). MIRROR MIRROR marks the classically trained pianist’s first piano-only recording since 1995’s Solos and Duets, a set of piano solos and six duets with pianist Herbie Hancock.

The recordings took place in NYC at Yamaha’s Artist Services in Manhattan with Corea and Brooklyn’s Bunker Studios with Valdés. It features Chick on four tracks, Chucho on three and was produced by Elias with her award-winning team of co-producers Marc Johnson and Steve Rodby, and mixed and mastered by Rich Breen. Though Corea and Valdés alternate in the track list with the opening Corea duet “Armando’s Rhumba” followed by the Valdés duet “Esta Tarde Vi Llover” before the next Corea duo “Blue Bossa,” etc., the flow is remarkably seamless – but the story behind the recording of the album is best told in two distinct segments.Having always counted Corea as one of her chief influences, Eliane first met him in 1978 in Brazil. Meeting on occasion over the years on the road they spoke of someday playing or recording together. Having at last set aside a date to do so, by design the two’s sole literal preparation was about song suggestions. In Eliane’s view, she and Chick had been getting ready for their session with lifetimes dedicated to their craft, their instruments and the art of improvisation.

“Despite him being a generation older, our influences were similar; Bud Powell, Bill Evans, in fact, we had both done tributes to Evans. We also played with many of the same bassists and drummers and, of course both were rooted in classical training. He played Mozart and Scarlatti, I played Bach and Ravel. Those shared influences poured out as we played and one can feel our affinities through the inventiveness of the rhythms and harmonies, how we felt time with each other and how we treated the songs.” When he passed unexpectedly in February 2021, Elias, devastated, was deep in the mixing process with four improvisational duets she had recorded with him. Revisiting the music for release reminded her just how effortlessly they communicated and of the instant rapport they shared.You can discern the duo’s chemistry from the elegant opening of “Armando’s Rhumba”. Ditto the opening sensitive lyrical approach and hypnotic intertwining of notes that drives “Blue Bossa”. The other tracks are the title track “Mirror Mirror” and “There Will Never Be Another You,” the title of which captures what words are insufficient to describe; the beautiful moments Eliane and Chick created in tandem.

In contemplating who she would like to work with to complete a piano duets album, the idea of playing with Valdés came quickly to mind, and Eliane describes the sessions as spontaneous, full of heart, passion, and energy and just as importantly, another dream fulfilled. She and Valdés ran into each other at festivals and other venues over the years, and have a deep affection for each other’s playing. Before they started recording at their Model D Steinway and Sons pianos, they had a brief meeting in Miami to go over song choices. Valdés was enthusiastic about her unique suggestions of tunes by Mexican and Spanish composers. He knew the songs but was surprised she did – until Eliane told him about her mother Lucy, the daughter of a Spanish Basque who exposed her to countless Spanish language and Latin songs in addition to her extensive jazz collection. They looked over Eliane’s charts in a fun afternoon of playing together, so that when they arrived at the studio a few days later, the only question was, “Do you solo first or do I? Eliane and Chucho create an intoxicating mix of Cuban and Brazilian rhythms throughout their three tunes, from the elegantly romantic “Esta Tarde Vi Llover” to the mood-swinging ”Corazon Partío” and “Sabor a Mi,” a sensual bolero which begins introspectively, then evolves into a percussive jam. “The give and take, the way I accompanied him and he accompanied me, and how we answered each other reflects how completely connected we were,” Eliane says.

Born in São Paulo, Brazil, Eliane began her classical piano studies at age seven and at twelve was transcribing solos from the great jazz masters. By 15, she was teaching piano and improvisation at one of Brazil’s most prestigious schools of music. Her performing career began two years later, working with Brazilian singer/songwriter Toquinho and the great poet Vinicius de Moraes, who was also Antonio Carlos Jobim’s co-writer/lyricist. Later in NYC, after performing for several years with Steps Ahead and recording on their self-titled second album (also featuring Michael Brecker, Michael Mainieri, Peter Erskine and Eddie Gomez), she launched her solo career in 1984 with a collaboration album with Randy Brecker titled Amanda.

Eliane’s first official album under her own name, Illusions, featured Stanley Clarke, Steve Gadd, Lenny White, Eddie Gomez and Toots Thielemans and hit #1 on the Radio & Records Contemporary Jazz chart. Voted Best New Talent in the Jazziz magazine critics’ poll in 1988, Eliane is a four-time Gold Disc Award recipient, a three-time Best Vocal Album winner in Japan and winner of the 2018 Edison Lifetime Achievement Award in Holland. Her 2019 album Love Stories, as most of her previous releases, hit #1 on the jazz charts worldwide.

“The title MIRROR MIRROR wasn’t chosen simply because it was one of the songs Chick and I recorded,” says Eliane. “It was all about the two pianos facing each other like a beautiful mirror image, and how in each duet we reflected each other’s thoughts and ideas back and forth. To me, the piano is an extension of my body, heart and soul and is at the center of everything I do. I will always be proud and grateful for the opportunity to have registered these special musical encounters with these two master musicians.” http://news.theurbanmusicscene.com/2021/07/eliane-elias-to-release-new-album-mirror-mirror/

Mirror Mirror

Thursday, June 27, 2024

Eliane Elias - Time And Again

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 2024
Time: 38:17
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 90,3 MB
Art: Front

(5:24) 1. At First Sight
(3:58) 2. Falo Do Amor
(3:56) 3. It's Time
(5:27) 4. How Many Times
(4:24) 5. Sempre
(4:50) 6. A Volta
(5:25) 7. Making Honey
(4:48) 8. Too Late

Eliane Elias, the internationally renowned Brazilian pianist, composer, and vocalist, continues to reach new heights with her latest album, “TIME AND AGAIN.” Building upon her recent GRAMMY® and Latin GRAMMY Award-winning success, this album showcases Elias’ unique blend of her Brazilian roots, jazz mastery, and a fusion of R&B and popular song influences.

Produced by her long-standing collaborators Marc Johnson and Steve Rodby, “TIME AND AGAIN” features eight original compositions that highlight Elias’ exceptional songwriting abilities. The album boasts an impressive lineup of musicians, including guitarists Conrado Goys, Marcus Teixeira, Daniel Santiago, and the legendary Bill Frisell, as well as guest appearances by vibraphonist Mike Mainieri, drummer Peter Erskine, and the background vocals of Mark Kibble. Notably, the legendary Brazilian composer and pop star Djavan graces the first single release, “Sempre.”

Elias reimagines three of her previous instrumental compositions, infusing them with new lyrics, tempos, and arrangements, revealing an emotional depth influenced by her collaboration with the poet Vinícius de Moraes. The album’s tracks, sung in both English and Portuguese, explore themes of love, joy, and life’s transitions, with standouts like “At First Sight,” “It’s Time,” and “How Many Times.”

With “TIME AND AGAIN,” Eliane Elias once again demonstrates her artistic ingenuity and ability to surprise listeners with her creative prowess. Her alluring vocals, masterful musicianship, and songwriting skills cement her status as the reigning queen of Brazilian jazz, delivering a landmark recording that affirms the beauty of life and invites listeners to experience her brilliant musical journey time and again.
https://www.birdland.com.au/eliane-elias-time-and-again

Time And Again

Wednesday, June 12, 2024

Eliane Elias - Dance Of Time

Styles: Vocal, Brazilian Jazz
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:20
Size: 129,9 MB
Art: Front

(4:17)  1. O Pato
(3:50)  2. You're Getting To Be A Habit With Me
(5:20)  3. Copacabana
(4:59)  4. Coisa Feita
(5:15)  5. By Hand (Em Maos)
(3:48)  6. Sambou Sambou
(4:59)  7. Little Paradise
(6:33)  8. Speak Low
(3:20)  9. Samba De Orly
(5:38) 10. Na Batucada Da Vida
(4:22) 11. An Up Dawn
(3:55) 12. Not To Cry (Pra Nao Chorar)

Way back in 1991, Brazilian-born pianist Eliane Elias opened Illusions, her debut solo album, with a tune called "Choro." It offered a swinging distillation of the musical form that has been at the heart of her life-long study of samba. Since then, she's revisited her musical heritage over and over again, wedding modern jazz to post-1960 Brazilian jazz and MPB. In the process, she's developed an instantly identifiable sound as a pianist. Dance of Time follows 2015's fine Made in Brasil, a set that relied most heavily on bossa nova. Teaming again with collaborative producers Steve Rodby and husband Marc Johnson, Elias is accompanied by a stellar rhythm section: bassist Marcelo Mariano, guitarist Marcus Teixeira, drummer Edu Ribeiro, and percussionists Marivaldo dos Santos and Gustavo di Dalva on most of this set. Recorded in Brazil and New York, the date also includes a wonderful guest list that includes Take 6's Mark Kibble, Randy Brecker, Mike Manieri, Joao Bosco who adds his voice and guitar to a lovely reading of his own "Coisa Feita" and Toquinho.

The program contains readings of killer sambas such as "O Pato," Joao Donato's eternal "Sambou Sambou," the wonderful "Samba de Orly" (co-composed by Toquinho, who also sings on it, Vinicius De Moraes and Chico Buarque), and Ary Barroso's "Na Batacuda da Vida." Each of these numbers remains faithful to the originals, but Elias' arrangements, pianism, and breezy, syncopated vocals graft them so thoroughly onto swinging, straight-ahead, modern post-bop, it's difficult to accept they weren't always in the jazz fakebook. But she goes further. She injects Harry Warren's slippery pop blues "You're Getting to Be a Habit with Me," with a slow choro backbeat. She also transforms Kurt Weill's and Ogden Nash's sultry "Speak Low" into simmering, polished modern jazz with a fantastic multi-tracked backing vocal by Kibble and great soloing from Brecker.

The best tunes here, however, are her own. "By Hand ("Em Maos") offers another backing vocal from Kibble, as Elias stitches samba onto bossa in a lithe, sensual groove. "An Up Dawn" is a vehicle for her intricate, syncopated chord voicings on her instrument's middle and lower registers, which create an interlocking dance of samba, tango, and bluesy ragtime. "Not to Cry (Pra Nao Chorar)" is a co-write with Toquinho who lends his guitar and weathered yet effective vocal in a duet. He began the tune in 1978 as a vehicle (for Elias) with the working title "Eliane." He completed it for this album with participation from the tune's muse. Their singing voices are an elegant yet earthy study in contrasts, while his lilting guitar chords pace her keyboard embellishments. Its tenderness sends the set off with a sweet whisper. Dance of Time is inspired, deftly musical, and truly accessible to a wide range of listeners from jazz to pop to Brazilian music. It's virtually flawless.By Thom Jurek http://www.allmusic.com/album/dance-of-time-mw0003020224

Personnel: Eliane Elias (vocals, piano).

Dance Of Time

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

Eliane Elias - Eliane Elias Plays Jobim

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 1989
Time: 58:02
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 132,9 MB
Art: Front

(4:46) 1. Waters Of March / Agua De Beber
(4:25) 2. One Note Samba
(3:00) 3. Don't Ever Go Away (Por Causa De Voce)
(3:03) 4. Sabiá
(5:11) 5. Passarim
(8:27) 6. Don't Ever Go Away
(6:32) 7. Desafinado
(5:31) 8. Angela
(8:52) 9. Children's Games
(5:46) 10. Dindi
(2:24) 11. Zingaro

This is not an album for those die-hard bossa fans. These popular Jobim tunes all were revisited by Elias with the goal of bridging the gap between Brazilian music and jazz; that goal was achieved. She affirms herself in this complex idiom, resulting in an album that can be enjoyed by any jazz connoisseur.

On this record, Elias responds successfully to all the challenges that come with interpreting a legendary artist like Jobim. Enriching Jobim's harmonies through her own musical wisdom, already in the album's first track ("Waters of March"/"Água de Beber"), she escapes from the trap of a conventional soothing rendition. Together with the talents of percussionist Naná Vasconcelos, she instills there a true Brazilian samba spirit, with its restless, somewhat aggressive quality. "Sabiá," usually recalled under Jobim's dense orchestration, receives a delicate ad-lib treatment that metamorphoses into a ballad.

"Desafinado," one of the best known Jobim tunes in America, may be the biggest surprise, with itsunstable jazz rhythm joined by creative re-harmonization. "Angela," a haunting, mysterious melody, is properly explored as a calm ballad. "Zíngaro," or "Retrato Em Preto E Branco," is faithful to its Brazilian sentiment in which a ballad feel menaces to take charge but is soon substituted by a typically Brazilian melancholy. "Samba de Uma Nota Só," in a funky interpretation, is not recognizable until they come to the bridge.

Then a samba feel takes place, with hot solos and cuíca interventions with the jazzy drumming of deJohnette's enriching the overall pancultural result. The album closes with Elias singing "Don't Ever Go Away" with her heartfelt tone backed by a piano that betrays the classical music tradition inherent to the formation of the Brazilian sensitivity. By Alvaro Neder
https://www.allmusic.com/album/eliane-elias-plays-jobim-mw0000315237#review

Personnel: Piano, Voice – Eliane Elias; Bass – Eddie Gomez; Drums – Jack DeJohnette

Eliane Elias Plays Jobim

Friday, April 19, 2024

Eliane Elias - I Thought About You: A Tribute To Chet Baker

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2013
Time: 54:49
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 125,9 MB
Art: Front

(4:56) 1. I Thought About You
(4:42) 2. There Will Never Be Another You
(3:53) 3. This Can't Be Love
(5:04) 4. Embraceable You
(3:52) 5. That Old Feeling
(3:38) 6. Everything Depends On You
(3:54) 7. I've Never Been In Love Before
(4:18) 8. Let's Get Lost
(5:13) 9. You Don't What Love Is
(2:11) 10. Blue Room
(3:30) 11. Just Friends
(3:50) 12. Girl Talk
(2:37) 13. Just In Time
(3:05) 14. I Get Along Without You Very Well

On Eliane Eliass second Concord release, the sultry Brazilian pianist-vocalist-arranger wraps her jazz and bossa nova style around classic tunes associated with iconic jazz trumpeter Chet Baker: "I Thought About You," "You Don't Know What Love Is," "Let's Get Lost," "That Old Feeling," and "I Get Along Without You Very Well."

Elias is supported by top flight Brazilian and American musicians, including her rhythm section of guitarist Steve Cardenas, drummers Rafael Barata and Victor Lewis, percussionist Marivaldo dos Santos and her husband, bassist Marc Johnson. Featuring special guests Randy Brecker on trumpet and Brazilian guitarist Oscar Castro-Neve's, considered a founding figure in bossa nova.By Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Thought-About-Tribute-Chet-Baker/dp/B00BXUG0KU

Personnel: Eliane Elias – piano, vocals; Randy Brecker – trumpet, flugelhorn; Steve Cardenas – electric guitar; Oscar Castro-Neves – acoustic guitar; Marc Johnson – double bass; Rafael Barata – drums; Victor Lewis – drums; Marivaldo Dos Santos – percussion

I Thought About You: A Tribute To Chet Baker

Saturday, March 30, 2024

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).

Monday, September 4, 2023

Eliane Elias - Brazilian Classics

Styles: Vocal, Piano, Brazilian Jazz, Bossa Nova
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:45
Size: 169,2 MB
Art: Front

(5:10)  1. Passarim
(3:50)  2. Chega De Saudade
(5:08)  3. Carioca Nights (Noites Cariocas)
(3:54)  4. Garota De Ipanema (Girl From Ipanema)
(7:50)  5. Milton Nascimento Medley
(4:46)  6. Waters Of March / Aqua De Beber
(4:23)  7. One Note Samba
(4:14)  8. Crystal And Lace
(2:09)  9. Jazz 'n' Samba (So Danço Samba)
(4:59) 10. Brazil (Aquarela Do Brasil)
(3:10) 11. Iluminados
(5:14) 12. Jet Samba (Samba Do Aviao)
(3:46) 13. Wave
(6:39) 14. Black Orpheus (Manhã De Carnaval)
(5:48) 15. Dindi
(1:37) 16. O Polichinelo (Clown)

Now that longtime Blue Note pianist/singer Eliane Elias has left the label for RCA/Bluebird, several compilations of her work are being released, including the present item, Brazilian Classics. A cynic might note “just in time for Christmas,” but even if its release is motivated mainly by marketing concerns, the CD provides a useful, focused troll through Elias’s back catalogue. Although Elias has ranged far and wide in her recordings (which include hard bop, pop-jazz, and classical pieces), this is the music with which she is most associated  bossa/jazz classics from the songbooks of Jobim, Nascimento, and others from her native Brazil. Elias is at home with this material and her piano work is muscular and confident. As such, the best tracks on the album are the instrumentals that feature her in a trio setting, mostly with bassist Eddie Gomez and drummer Jack DeJohnette. Throughout punchy and inventive takes on “Passarium,” “One Note Samba,” and “Black Orpheus,” Elias goes toe-to-toe with the rhythm section, with exciting results. Her tendency to introduce subtle reharmonizations and rhythmic variations keeps these well-worn tunes from sounding like boring retreads.

Somewhat less successful are the tracks featuring her vocals. While her thin yet husky delivery is appropriately unstudied on Só Danço Samba,” it can’t quite carry “Chega De Saudade” or “Girl From Ipanema” convincingly. Having Elias’s young daughter sing on “Ponta de Areia” was not the wisest of decisions either, bringing to mind, as it does, grade school recitals best left forgotten. That said, however, Brazilian Classics is an appealing listen, thematically unified and impeccably produced. The hardcore jazz fan may do better with Elias’s Plays Jobim album, from which many of the best tracks with Gomez and DeJohnette are taken. But bossa nova fanatics, or maybe those wishing for a warm Brazilian breeze in the dead of winter, will enjoy this generous selection of Elias’s work.By Joshua Weiner https://www.allaboutjazz.com/brazilian-classics-eliane-elias-blue-note-records-review-by-joshua-weiner.php

Personnel: Eliane Elias, piano, vocals; Eddie Gomez, Marc Johnson, bass; Jack DeJohnette, Peter Erskine, drums; Michael Brecker, sax; Cafe, percussion

Brazilian Classics

Sunday, July 2, 2023

Toots Thielemans - Brasil Project Vol. 2

Styles: Harmonica Jazz
Year: 1993
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:37
Size: 143,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:30)  1. Ce
(3:36)  2. Choro Bandido
(3:19)  3. Retrato em Branco e Preto
(3:34)  4. Obsession
(3:08)  5. Travessia
(4:25)  6. Flora
(5:17)  7. Unconditional Love
(2:59)  8. Papel Maché
(3:36)  9. O Futebol
(3:48) 10. Linda
(3:22) 11. Samba de Uma Nota Só
(5:21) 12. Oceano
(3:36) 13. Samba de Orfeu

Guitarist, harmonica player, and whistler Toots Thielemans' followup to the critically acclaimed Brasil Project doesn't stray far from its predecessor's path. There are 13 nice Afro-Latin selections with Thielemans backing such top Brazilian vocalists as Milton Nascimento, Gilberto Gil, Ivan Lins, Caetano Veloso, and Dori Caymmi, among others, and guitarists Oscar Castro-Nieves and Lee Ritenour assisting Thielemans with delicate shadings and accompaniment.By Ron Wynn
http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-brasil-project-vol-2-mw0000098552

Personnel includes: Toots Thielemans (harmonica); Edu Lobo, Milton Nascimento (vocals); John Clark (French horn, hornette); Eliane Elias (piano);  Mike Lang, Dave Grusin (keyboards); Ivan Lins (keyboards, vocals); Joao Bosco, Djavan, Dori Caymmi (guitar, vocals); Lee Ritenour, Oscar Castro-Neves, Luis Bonfa (guitar); Eugene Friesen (cello); Brian Bromberg, Marc Johnson, Jamil Joanes (bass); Steve Schaeffer, Teo Lima (drums); Cassio Duarte, Bira Hawal, Paulinho Da Costa (percussion).

Brasil Project Vol. 2

Friday, June 30, 2023

Toots Thielemans - The Brasil Project

Styles: Guitar And Harmonica Jazz
Year: 1992
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:51
Size: 128,9 MB
Art: Front

(3:57)  1. Começar de Novo
(4:23)  2. Obi
(3:00)  3. Felicia And Bianca
(4:10)  4. O Cantador
(2:57)  5. Joanna Francesa
(4:26)  6. Coisa Feita
(3:18)  7. Preciso Aprender a Ser Só
(5:41)  8. Fruta Boa
(4:29)  9. Coração Vagabundo
(3:29) 10. Manhã de Carnaval
(3:39) 11. Casa Fortes
(2:35) 12. Moments
(9:41) 13. Blusette

This popular set matches the brilliant harmonica player Toots Thielemans with such top Brazilian performers as Ivan Lins, Djavan, Oscar Castro-Neves, Dori Caymmi, Ricardo Silveira, João Bosco, Gilberto Gil, Milton Nascimento, Caetano Veloso, Luiz Bonfá, Edu Lobo and Eliane Elias, in addition to bassist Brian Bromberg, keyboardist Michael Lang, trumpeter Mark Isham and Dave Grusin. Thielemans is often in a supportive role behind the many soothing Brazilian singers and performers. The atmospheric date surprisingly does not have any Antonio Carlos Jobim songs, instead emphasizing lesser-known tunes (other than Toots' greatest hit "Bluesette"). Easily recommended to fans of Brazilian pop and jazz, this CD was soon followed by a second (and equally rewarding) set featuring many of the same performers. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-brasil-project-mw0000081385

Personnel: Toots Thielemans (harmonica, guitar, whistle); Milton Nascimento, Chico Buarque (vocals); Djavan, Joao Bosco, Dori Cayammi, Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Edu Lobo, Luis Bonfa (guitar, vocals); Lee Ritenour, Oscar Castro-Neves, Ricardo Silveira (guitar); Mark Isham (trumpet); Dave Grusin, Eliane Elias (piano); Gilson Peranzzetta, Mike Lang (keyboards); Ivan Lins (keyboards, vocals); Brian Bromberg, Jamil Joanes, Nico Assumpcao, Marc Johnson (bass); Teo Lima (drums); Cassio Duarte, Bira Hawai, Jose Roberto, Paulinho Da Costa (percussion).

The Brasil Project

Wednesday, October 26, 2022

Eliane Elias - Quietude

Styles: Vocal, Piano, Brazilian Jazz
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:35
Size: 96,2 MB
Art: Front

(4:54) 1. Você e Eu (You and I)
(3:37) 2. Marina
(4:17) 3. Bahia Com H (Bahia With H)
(3:02) 4. Só Tinha Que Ser Com Você (This Love That I've Found)
(4:20) 5. Olha (Look)
(5:53) 6. Bahia Medley: Saudade da Bahia / Você Já Foi á Bahia
(3:30) 7. Eu Sambo Mesmo (I Really Samba)
(2:31) 8. Bolinha de Papel (Little Paper Ball)
(2:30) 9. Tim-Tim Por Tim-Tim
(3:26) 10. Brigas Nunca Mais (No More Fighting)
(3:30) 11. Saveiros

With 2022's Quietude, Eliane Elias crafts a sumptuously intimate showcase for her Portuguese vocals and bossa nova jazz balladry. The album follows her Grammy winning 2021 production Mirror Mirror, where she went head-to-head with fellow piano luminaries Chucho Valdes and Chick Corea, the latter of whom died soon after the album was finished. That album put Elias' immense jazz, Latin, and classical keyboard skills on display. While she does play some piano here, Quietude intentionally spotlights her voice, pairing the Brazilian-born performer with several of her closest guitar friends on a handful of her favorite songs from her homeland. Here, Elias is joined by Marcus Teixeira with whom she has worked since her breakthrough 2015 album Made in Brazil.

Also joining her is Lula Galvão, one of the leading masters of the Brazilian acoustic guitar tradition. There are also rhythm section contributions from percussionist Celso de Almeida and Elias' husband, bassist Marc Johnson, the latter of whom also produced the effort with Steve Rodby in São Paulo. Much of the album focuses on duets, including a hushed reading of Dorival Caymmi's "Marina" with Teixeira. Other songs, like her lyrical take on Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Só Tinha Que Ser Com Você" benefit from her lush small group sound. We also get a spritely take on Haroldo Barbosa and Geraldo Jacques' bossa nova "Tim-Tim Por Tim-Tim" which Elias recorded with the late Brazilian guitar legend Oscar Castro-Neves prior to his 2013 passing and which she hadn't released until now. Equally compelling is her affectionate album-ending duet with 79-year-old singer Dori Caymmi on his father and Nelson Motta's poetic sailing ballad "Saveiros."By Matt Collar https://www.allmusic.com/album/quietude-mw0003806438

Personnel: Eliane Elias – piano, vocals; Marcus Teixeira – guitar; Lula Galvão – guitar; Oscar Castro-Neves – guitar; Celso de Almeida – percussions; Marc Johnson – bass; Steve Rodby – bass

Quietude

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Eliane Elias - Love Stories

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 2019
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:39
Size: 100,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:15)  1. A Man And A Woman
(5:02)  2. Baby Come To Me
(5:52)  3. Bonita
(5:25)  4. Angel Eyes
(5:52)  5. Come Fly With Me
(3:59)  6. The Simplest Things
(4:04)  7. Silence
(5:48)  8. Little Boat
(4:17)  9. The View

A Grammy-winning Brazilian pianist and songstress with a sultry voice, impeccable phrasing, and romantic flair chooses to take on the many feelings and emotions of love for her next record. That would seem like a natural fit. To say that this is in the wheelhouse of Eliane Elias is to be the master of the obvious. But if you listen intently you will hear just how fervently she dove into the deep end of the pool of love. The love scenes about to unfold were romanticized by lavish strings and orchestration prevalent throughout the bossa-nova-tinged Love Stories. As if a temptress leading you on to your next liaison, the record opens with a provocatively hushed Elias melding with the broad orchestral arrangement in the theme song from the 1966 Oscar winning French film A Man and a Woman. Now more than a light and catchy pop song, "Baby Come to Me," has an array of spices added to the recipe. Take 6 vocalist Mark Kibble mixes a dash of his rich harmony to Elias's tasty come-hither ingredients. The instrumental arrangement on this tune is among the most flavorful on the album. "Bonita," written by Antonio Carlos Jobim, is sung with unfeigned delight and with the sincerest of Elias' expressionism. Her piano offers a soft, yet significant, role in the elegance of its presentation. A tune generally thought of in connection with Frank Sinatra is next as the romance continues to develop. Elias gives "Angel Eyes" a wink and a sparkle that make it her own. One great Sinatra tune begets another as the high-spirited "Come Fly with Me" kicks in.

Sinatra took listeners to a wonderous fantasy land that they could revisit every time they heard him sing it. Elias emotes an earnest invitation of frankness (no pun intended) to a beautiful place to which listeners might actually travel. Elias stretches instrumentally and rides a vibrant groove with her ensemble. The relationship gets mature with the Elias original, "The Simplest Things." It's a song of imagery that few could sing with such feeling, vulnerability and believability. Lyrically profound, it eschews the superficial and dares to appreciate what matters most. The anguish of love is addressed with "Silence." Elias digs deep into her soul in order to touch listeners. Love is beautiful. Love is sweet. But "Silence" examines the heartbreaks in genuine and truthful fashion. Brighter days are found as we sail in her "Little Boat." The mood kicks way up with an adventurous piano solo that ripples along the coast of the sea of orchestration. The story comes to a close with an exploration of the sexy and passion-laced allure of love. Elias bids us adieu, until we meet again, with the full flight of her voice, phrasing, and discerning pianism on "The View." This amorous aspect of love is illustrated by Elias's signature poetic sound. ~ Jim Worsley https://www.allaboutjazz.com/love-stories-eliane-elias-concord-jazz-review-by-jim-worsley.php

Personnel: Eliane Elias: vocals and piano; Marc Johnson: bass; Mark Kibble: background vocal; Marcus Teixeira: guitar; Daniel Santiago: guitar; Robert Menescal: guitar; Edu Rieeiro: drums; Rafael Barate: drums; Paulo Braga: drums; Celso de Almeida: drums.

Love Stories

Monday, July 15, 2019

Earl Klugh - Midnight In San Juan

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 1991
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:31
Size: 95,7 MB
Art: Front

(5:52)  1. Midnight in San Juan
(4:00)  2. Every Moment with You
(6:06)  3. Kissin' on the Beach
(4:33)  4. She Never Said Why
(4:41)  5. Mobimientos Del Alma (Rhythms of the Soul)
(3:44)  6. Jamaican Winds
(5:27)  7. Theme for a Rainy Day
(7:06)  8. Take You There

The majority of Earl Klugh's albums have been throwaways not because he's choosing pop-flavored jazz and jazzy instrumental pop over straight-ahead jazz, but because of their total lack of substance and musical integrity. One of his more listenable commercial efforts, Midnight in San Juan finds the guitarist placing an unusually heavy emphasis on Latin and Caribbean elements. The CD is decent more often than not, and listeners are reminded of the fact that commercial pop-jazz can be tasteful or not so tasteful. 

Some of the more worthwhile tunes include the Brazilian-flavored "Kissin' on the Beach," and the salsa-influenced "Mobimientos del Alma," the haunting "She Never Said Why" and the Joe Sample-ish title tune. Harmonica player Toots Thielemans has a melodic cameo on the pensive "Theme for a Rainy Day," and pianist Eliane Elias is in good form on the vibrant "Take You There." Meanwhile, Klugh tosses good taste to the wind on "Every Moment with You," a glaring example of the type of insipid, toothless schlock he so often stoops to playing. This is far from an essential purchase, but overall, it was certainly superior to most of his other commercial albums. ~ Alex Henderson https://www.allmusic.com/album/midnight-in-san-juan-mw0000674962

Personnel: Earl Klugh – guitar, keyboards; Toots Thielemans – harmonica; Ron Carter – bass; Chuck Loeb – guitar; Paul McGill – guitar; Jose Oribe – guitar; Oscar Hernández – bass; Lucio Hopper – bass; Abraham Laboriel, Sr. – bass; Eliane Elias – piano; Ruben Rodriquez – piano; Sammy Figueroa – percussion; Paulinho Da Costa – percussion; Ralph Irizarry – percussion; Barnaby Finch – keyboards; Ronnie Foster – keyboards; Mark Nilan – keyboards; Richard Tee – electric piano; Robby Ameen – drums; Harvey Mason Sr. – drums; Buddy Williams – drums

Midnight In San Juan

Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Peter Erskine - Motion Poet

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 1988
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:31
Size: 124,1 MB
Art: Front

(6:26)  1. Erskoman
(6:43)  2. Not a Word
(6:25)  3. Hero with a Thousand Faces
(7:23)  4. Dream Clock
(6:01)  5. Exit up Right
(4:07)  6. A New Regalia
(3:25)  7. Boulez
(7:44)  8. The Mystery Man
(5:13)  9. In Walked Maya

A highly skilled, versatile drummer, Peter Erskine has anchored big bands and jazz-rock fusion groups. He's known for sophisticated rhythms, distinctive accompaniment, and powerful, rippling solos. Erskine began drumming at three, and participated in Stan Kenton's National Stage Band Camps from the age of six. He studied with Alan Dawson and Ed Soph, attending the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan and Indiana University. He played with Kenton from 1972 to 1975, then from 1976 to 1978 with Maynard Ferguson. Erskine joined Weather Report in 1978, and was their drummer and percussionist until 1982. He also did several West Coast sessions in the late '70s, and was a member of Steps and Steps Ahead. During the '80s he worked with John Abercrombie's groups and the quartet Bass Desires. He's also worked with Joe Farrell, Marc Johnson, Mike Brecker, Randy Brecker, John Scofield, Bob Mintzer, Lew Soloff, Kenny Kirkland, Mike Mandel, and Kenny Werner, among others. As a leader, he debuted with Peter Erskine in 1982 on Contemporary, followed by several well-received efforts for Denon. During the '90s, he developed a good relationship with ECM, releasing such albums as 1992's You Never Know, 1995's As It Is, and 1998's Juni. Also during the '90s, Erskine founded his own Fuzzy Music label, delivering such albums as 1995's From Kenton to Now with tenor saxophonist Richard Torres and 1998's Lava Jazz. In the 2000s, Erskine continued to release albums via Fuzzy Music with 2002's Badlands, 2005's The Lounge Art Ensemble: Music for Moderns, and 2016's Dr. Um, which introduced his Dr. Um Band featuring keyboardist John Beasley. In 2017, Erskine reunited Beasley and the Dr. Um Band for Second Opinion. ~ Ron Wynn https://www.allmusic.com/artist/peter-erskine-mn0000842492/biography

Personnel: Drums, Percussion – Peter Erskine; Arranged By – Bob Mintzer (tracks: 8), Randy Brecker (tracks: 5), Vince Mendoza (tracks: 1 to 4, 6, 7, 9); Baritone Saxophone – Roger Rosenberg (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 6); Bass – Marc Johnson (2) (tracks: 2 to 4, 8, 9); Bass Trombone – Matt Finders (tracks: 2 to 4, 6); Electric Bass – Will Lee (tracks: 1, 5, 6); French Horn – Jerry Peel (tracks: 2 to 4), John Clark (2) (tracks: 2 to 4), Peter Gordon (8) (tracks: 2 to 4); Guitar – Jeff Mironov (tracks: 1, 5, 6); Guitar, Guitar Synthesizer – John Abercrombie (tracks: 2 to 4, 8, 9); Keyboards – Jim Beard (tracks: 1 to 8); Piano – Eliane Elias (tracks: 2, 5); Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Flute – Lawrence Feldman (tracks: 1, 3 to 6); Tenor Saxophone – Bob Mintzer (tracks: 4, 6, 8), Michael Brecker (tracks: 3); Tenor Saxophone, Flute – Bob Mintzer (tracks: 1, 3 to 6); Trombone, Tuba – Dave Bargeron (tracks: 1, 2 to 4, 6); Trumpet – Joe Mosello (tracks: 1, 3 to 6), Randy Brecker (tracks: 4, 8); Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Lew Soloff (tracks: 1 to 4, 6)

Motion Poet

Tuesday, July 3, 2018

Eliane Elias, Bob Brookmeyer, The Danish Radio Jazz Orchestra - Impulsive!

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:05
Size: 126.1 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 1997
Art: Front

[ 7:28] 1. Just Kiddin'
[ 8:42] 2. So In Love
[ 9:09] 3. Moments
[11:48] 4. The Time Is Now
[ 7:53] 5. One Side Of You
[10:02] 6. Impulsive!

The curious blend of pianist Eliane Elias with conductor and arranger Bob Brookmeyer leading the Danish Radio Jazz Orchestra makes for a surprising mix. Brookmeyer, long established as one of the top jazz writers and a phenomenal valve trombonist to boot, was not familiar with the recordings of the Brazilian keyboardist, but he was clearly up to the challenge of scoring her music. Brookmeyer gives "Just Kiddin'" a big and bold post-bop treatment, with an underlying funky rhythm and a bit of electronics thrown in for fun. Elias and Brookmeyer share the solo spotlight in the breezy setting of her ballad "So in Love." Far more low-key is "Moments," with sparse piano lines backed by Brookmeyer's rich scoring for the brass and a fine solo by flugelhornist Henrik Bolberg Pedersen. The exotic, high-energy setting of "The Time Is Now" is a more modern bossa nova, showcasing Elias and Brookmeyer, along with bassist Thomas Ovesen and drummer Jonas Johansen. "One Side of You" is a haunting ballad made more so by Brookmeyer's brilliant arrangement. This session may throw a bit of a curve to longtime fans of either Eliane Elias or Bob Brookmeyer, but this successful CD is very much an ear opener. ~Ken Dryden

Impulsive! mc
Impulsive! zippy

Friday, April 13, 2018

Eliane Elias - Music From Man Of La Mancha

Size: 123,4 MB
Time: 53:29
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front & Back

01. What Does He Want Of Me (6:43)
02. To Each His Dulcinea (5:42)
03. Man Of La Mancha (I, Don Quixote) (7:40)
04. A Little Gossip (4:31)
05. It’s All The Same (7:16)
06. The Impossible Dream (5:48)
07. I'm Only Thinking Of Him (5:04)
08. Dulcinea (5:34)
09. The Barber’s Song (5:07)

Music From Man of La Mancha is a 1964 musical with a book by Dale Wasserman, lyrics by Joe Darion, and music by Mitch Leigh. It is adapted from Wasserman's non-musical 1959 teleplay I, Don Quixote, which was in turn inspired by Miguel de Cervantes and his 17th-century masterpiece Don Quixote.

The original 1965 Broadway production ran for 2,328 performances and won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The musical has been revived four times on Broadway, becoming one of the most enduring works of musical theatre. The principal song, "The Impossible Dream", became a standard.

Eliane previously recorded these tracks at the request of the original composer, Mitch Leigh, Guest artists are talented and GRAMMY Award-winning jazz artists Marc Johnson (bass), Satoshi Takeshi (drums), Manolo Badrena (percussion), Eddie Gomez (bass), Jack DeJohnette (drums).

Music From Man Of La Mancha

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Various Artists - Bob Belden's Shades Of Blue

Styles: Contemporary Jazz, Post-Bop
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 70:40
Size: 162,3 MB
Art: Front

(6:54)  1. Dianne Reeves, Geri Allen - Maiden Voyage
(5:34)  2. Jacky Terrasson - Un Poco Loco
(5:49)  3. John Scofield - Tom Thumb
(2:36) 4. Cassandra Wilson, Ron Carter - Joshua Fit De Battle Ob Jericho
(8:21)  5. Tim Hagans, Bob Belden - Siete Ocho
(7:40)  6. Marcus Printup - You've Changed
(5:36)  7. Holly Cole, Javon Jackson - Hum Drum Blues
(5:56)  8. Geoff Keezer - 2300 Skiddoo
(6:08)  9. Renee Rosnes - Song For My Father
(6:51) 10. Kurt Elling - Tanganyika Dance (The Man From Tanganyika)
(4:41) 11. T.S. Monk, Ron Carter - Evidence
(4:29) 12. Eliane Elias - Una Mas

In 1994, producer-tenor saxophonist Bob Belden received the unusual assignment of putting together a variety of all-star groups to revisit tunes associated with the Blue Note legacy. From November 1994 to March 1995 he recorded most of Blue Note's then-current roster, documenting 39 compositions in all. Twelve are on this CD, while many of the others have been released in Japan. Each of the dozen numbers uses a different group and they are generally consistent, if not filled with surprises. Dianne Reeves, Cassandra Wilson, Holly Cole, and Kurt Elling are heard on vocal features (Reeves and Elling fare best), trumpeter Marcus Printup shows off his warm tone on "You've Changed," and, in a performance that brings back the "Bitches Brew" era (and is both the most modern and the most dated of these interpretations), Belden, trumpeter Tim Hagans and three keyboardists explore Andrew Hill's "Siete Ocho." 

Of the many pianists who are featured on this set (including Geri Allen, Jacky Terrasson, Renee Rosnes, and Eliane Elias), Geoff Keezer's fairly free improvisation on Herbie Nichols' "2300 Skidoo" is the most memorable. Quite unusual is the complete absence of any of the quintet or sextet lineups that were almost a trademark of Blue Note in the '50s and '60s, and the relatively few trumpet and saxophone solos. Sure to be a collector's item, this CD is not essential but it has enough variety to keep the interest of most jazz listeners. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/shades-of-blue-mw0000184479

Bob Belden's Shades Of Blue

Monday, June 8, 2015

VA - Ladies In Blue: The Best Blue Note Female Vocals

Size: 175,6+164,6 MB
Time: 75:40+70:50
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2012
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Label: Blue Note Records
Art: Front

CD 1:
01. Stacey Kent - What A Wonderful World (4:24)
02. Norah Jones - Those Sweet Words (3:24)
03. The Bird & The Bee - How Deep Is Your Love (3:22)
04. Sabrina Starke - Yellow Brick Road (4:07)
05. Cassandra Wilson - Time After Time (4:05)
06. Traincha - What The World Needs Now (3:56)
07. Abbey Lincoln - Do Nothin' 'Til You Hear From Me (2:14)
08. China Moses - What A Difference A Day Makes (7:17)
09. Alice Ricciardi - Comes Love (4:27)
10. Billie Holiday - Detour Ahead (3:01)
11. Blossom Dearie - May I Come In (20 Bit Mastering 1998 Remastered Version) (2:12)
12. Julie London - I Left My Heart In San Francisco (2:48)
13. Jacinta - Baby Won't You Please Come Home (5:45)
14. Jutta Hipp With Zoot Sims - Violets For Your Furs (6:07)
15. Holly Cole & Javon Jackson - Hum Drum Blues (5:36)
16. Molly Johnson - Melody (3:44)
17. Grant Greens - Down Here On The Ground (Ummah Remix Feat. Dianne Reeves) (4:36)
18. Cecilie Norby - Set Them Free (4:27)

CD 2:
01. Priscilla Ahn - Dream (3:29)
02. Marlena Shaw - Feel Like Making Love (4:58)
03. Shirley Eikhard - There But For Love Go I (5:12)
04. Eliane Elias - They Can't Take That Away From Me (3:43)
05. Carmen Mcrae - The Man I Love (4:15)
06. Denise Jannah - You Must Believe In Spring (7:13)
07. Betty Carter - There Is No Greater Love (3:49)
08. Dodo Greene - Jazz In My Soul (2:35)
09. Jackie Allen - Lazy Afternoon (3:49)
10. Helen Eriksen - Arms Around You (4:45)
11. Lena Horne - Something To Live For (Live) (4:43)
12. Sarah Vaughan - Stormy Weather (With Jimmie Jones And Orchestra) (3:26)
13. Nancy Wilson - Call Me Irresponsible (2000 Remastered Version) (2:25)
14. Nina Simone - The House Of The Rising Sun (Live At The Village Gate 2004 Remastered Version) (4:37)
15. Sheila Jordan - Baltimore Oriole (2:34)
16. Sue Raney - Maybe You'll Be There (2006 Remastered Version) (2:23)
17. Annie Ross - I'm Just A Lucky So And So (4:46)
18. George Shearing - In The Night (2003 Remastered Version) (2:00)

Ladies In Blue CD 1
Ladies In Blue CD 2

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Eliane Elias - Made In Brazil

Styles: Brazilian Jazz, Bossa Nova
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:26
Size: 132,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:39)  1. Brasil (Aquarela do Brasil)
(5:17)  2. Você
(5:50)  3. Águas de Março (Waters of March)
(4:49)  4. Searching
(5:02)  5. Some Enchanted Place
(4:49)  6. Incendiando
(4:37)  7. Vida (If Not You)
(3:28)  8. Este Seu Olhar / Promessas
(5:27)  9. Driving Ambition
(4:48) 10. Rio
(3:45) 11. A Sorte do Amor (The Luck of Love)
(4:48) 12. No Tabuleiro da Baiana

The music of Brazil extends far past the samba with a musical diversity as deep and rich as their citizens. Eliane Elias returned to her country of origin and recruited some of Brazil's finest musicians for a slightly more contemporary interpretation of this most influential music. While there is nothing lacking in authenticity, the sound is meticulously crafted and built around  improvisational music with an occasional classical flair. Six originals confirm her astounding compositional skill while her vocal style is beyond reproach.  

This music with one foot in the past but with both eyes on the future with guests and band members including Mark Kibble from Take 6, daughter Amanda Brecker and Marcus Teixeira. Made In Brazil ignites a slow romantic burn with tunes such as "Incendiano" and "Driving Ambition" thanks to the stellar contributions from Kibble. Another incredible highlight includes Amanda Brecker's appearance on the buoyant "Some Enchanted Place." Elias produces the release along with the help of critically acclaimed Steve Rodby and Marc Johnson. A true collaborative effort, it is the ability to nuance deceptively subtle sounds and textures that is the key to both the artistic brilliance of Elias and perhaps the best release of the year with Made In Brazil. Flawless. ~ Brent Black  http://www.criticaljazz.com/2015/02/eliane-elias-made-in-brazil-concord-2015.html

Monday, April 28, 2014

Eliane Elias - Sings Jobim

Styles: Brazilian Jazz
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:16
Size: 117,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:53)  1. Girl from Ipanema
(3:03)  2. One Note Samba
(2:07)  3. Jazz 'n' Samba
(3:00)  4. She's a Carioca
(2:46)  5. Looks Like December
(3:24)  6. Desafinado
(3:06)  7. Falando de Amor
(3:00)  8. Song of the Jet
(4:02)  9. A Felicidade
(2:51) 10. For All of My Life
(2:56) 11. How Insensitive
(4:16) 12. Forgetting You
(1:35) 13. Pois é
(4:43) 14. Once I Loved
(2:25) 15. Modinha
(4:02) 16. Caminhos Cruzados

Elias started with the piano at age seven. She studied at the Free Center of Music Apprenticeship in São Paulo. She joined Brazilian singer/guitarist/songwriter Toquinho and poet/entertainer Vinicius de Moraes when she was 17 years old, with whom she made concert tours for three years, mainly through South America. On a tour in Europe in 1981, she met jazz bassist Eddie Gomez and was encouraged to travel to New York. After moving there, she was invited to join Steps Ahead, and recorded one album with the group in 1983. After leaving Steps Ahead, she worked with trumpet player Randy Brecker, whom she subsequently married. They recorded an album named Amanda, after their daughter. In 1988 she was elected as "Best New Talent" by the JAZZIZ magazine poll of jazz critics. She divorced Randy in the early 1990s. She has recorded several notable albums, including one featuring duets with Herbie Hancock. 

Their 1995 disc Solos and Duets was nominated for a Grammy in the "Jazz instrumental video" category. In 1997, American musician Bob Brookmeyer dedicated a full album to his arrangements of Eliane's compositions, backed by the Danish Jazz Orchestra and published under the name of Impulsive!, which received another Grammy nomination as "Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album" in 2001. Elias was one of the featured artists in the Latin jazz documentary, Calle 54, released in 2000. In 2002 she made her first appearance on Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz radio program (and another in 2008). She is married to bassist Marc Johnson, with whom she has produced several albums including the ECM Records release titled Shades of Jade which features Eliane's writing and piano-playing. This recording won the Best Foreign Release Award in Denmark in 2006 and was chosen by Time Magazine as one of the five best Fall releases in 2005. ~ Bio  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eliane_Elias

Personnel:  Personnel: Eliane Elias (vocals, piano); Michael Brecker (tenor saxophone); Oscar Castro-Neves (acoustic guitar, background vocals); Marc Johnson (acoustic bass, background vocals); Paulo Braga (drums, bongos, background vocals); Cafe (percussion); Amanda Brecker, Christine Martin, Elza Silva (background vocals).

Sings Jobim

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Eliane Elias - Something for You

Styles: Brazilian Jazz
Year: 2008
File: MP3@VBR ~320K/s
Time: 63:11
Size: 144,5 MB
Art: Front

(3:17)  1. You and the Night and the Music
(2:58)  2. Here Is Something for You
(2:51)  3. A Sleepin Bee
(3:51)  4. But Not for Me
(4:05)  5. Waltz for Debby
(4:59)  6. Five
(4:50)  7. Blue in Green
(4:33)  8. Detour Ahead
(3:13)  9. Minha (All Mine)
(5:01) 10. My Foolish Heart
(4:25) 11. But Beautiful/Here's That Rainy Day
(2:54) 12. I Love My Wife
(2:53) 13. For Nenette
(3:23) 14. Evanesque
(3:11) 15. Solar
(4:29) 16. After All
(2:13) 17. Introduction to "Here Is Something for You"

Everybody digs Bill Evans, the pianist who changed the face of the piano trio in jazz with his Sunday at the Village Vanguard (Riverside Records, 1961) and Waltz for Debby (Riverside Records, 1961). These were the albums that brought a then unheard of level of interaction between the pianist and his trio mates, bassist Scott LaFaro and drummer Paul Motian. 

Things haven't been the same since. There are countless piano trios that have been influenced by that groundbreaking group. Pianist/vocalist Eliane Elias, growing up in her native Brazil, absorbed the sounds of that famous Evans trio. Returning to Blue Note Records after a seven year absence from the label, the artist offers up a heartfelt tribute to Evans with Something for You. It's to Elias' credit that she brings her own piano voice to the set. Rather than play like Bill Evans, she gets into his spirit, and has her own things to say. She has a more gregarious approach to songs he wrote, including "Waltz for Debby" and "Blue in Green," as well as those he was associated with like "My Foolish Heart" and "You and the Night and the Music." She is more given to brief sparkling flourishes, and injects more emotion into Evans' cerebral mode of play. 

Elias sings on six of the seventeen cuts. With a slight Portuguese accent and the occasional hush in the delivery, comparisons to Astrud Gilberto are inevitable. But Elias' voice is richer, more emotionally resonant, and is absolutely beguiling on "Minha" and "But Beautiful/Here's That Rainy Day." "Here Is Something For You," and "Evanesque" are previously unreleased Evans tunes discovered by bassist Marc Johnson (Elias' husband). Johnson was the bassist in the pianist's last trio and, just prior to his death in 1980, Evans had given him a cassette of things he was working on. Elias treats these classic Evans works with care, with "Evanesque," featuring some particularly searching piano work. Something For You is a gorgeous tribute to one of the giants of jazz piano. ~ Dan Mcclenaghan  
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=28747#.Uo48KOJc_vs

Personnel: Eliane Elias: piano, voice; Marc Johnson: bass; Joey Baron: drums.