Album review by G. Sawaged ~amazon.com
Anyone who loves Brazilian music, Jobim, jazz and bossa nova, cannot fail but love this album. Eliane’s voice is beautiful and she sings without straining, her voice is but a breath of air, and is so relaxing. Her piano playing is second to none and the other musicians on this album are just as brilliant… Michael Brecker, Oscar Castro-Neves, Marc Johnson, Paulo Braga and Cafe.
This is an album that has the ability to transport you to a warm Brazilian beach, even in the midst of a cold Canadian winter. Just put it on, close your eyes, and get ready for the sun!
19/11/2007
A video interview with pianist/singer Eliane Elias and her husband bassist/composer Marc Johnson. "FaceCulture" spoke to Eliane Elenias about her album "Something For You: Eliane Elias Sings & Plays Bill Evans", the story of the tape, Marc Johnson, Bill Evans and more.
This web-found (incomplete) interview of Eliane Elias includes a beautiful information about the "Something for You (Blue Note, 2008)" album of Mrs. Elias.
Mrs. Elias says that Marc Johnson(the husband of Mrs. Elias & the last bassist of the Bill Evans Trio) had received a cassette from Bill Evans about one week before he passed away. This cassette was rediscovered by Marc and he played it for Eliane; it had some new music that Bill Evans was working on, and this music was not recorded before. Mrs. Elias was so taken by that, and it was the beginning of the idea of the album."
"Something for You: Eliane Elias Sings & Plays Bill Evans" album details & buy:~amazon.com
Eliane Elias: Her Song of Singing The Brazilian jazz pianist/singer talks about her new album Light My Fire and explains the difference between being a piano player and a singer
A video about the making of the album:
Pianist and singer Eliane Elias has always incorporated her Brazilian roots into her music. Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Elias came to the US in 1981 and was soon working with the fusion band Steps Ahead. She thereafter began her solo career as a jazz pianist, combining Brazilian music with improvisational jazz. During that career spanning almost three decades, she's also recorded and performed the music of Bill Evans and even classical composers. Since 1984, Elias has recorded over 20 albums and established herself as an accomplished jazz pianist and increasingly as a singer.
The singing is front and center on her new album Light My Fire, which features an all-star supporting cast including Gilberto Gil, Romero Lubambo, Oscar Castro-Neves and Randy Brecker, as well as her husband and long-time collaborator, bassist Marc Johnson. The breezy and sensual album features Elias singing (and playing) originals, classic Brazilian compositions and some interesting covers, including Stevie Wonder’s “My Cherie Amour” and the title song by Jim Morrison and the Doors.
Elias talked with JazzTimes about the new album and how she has adapted to being a singer as well as pianist.
Pianist/singer/songwriter, Eliane Elias is known for her distinctive and immediately recognizable musical style which blends her Brazilian roots and her sensuous, alluring voice with her impressive instrumental jazz, classical and compositional skills. Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Elias' musical talents began to show at an early age. She started studying piano at age seven, and at age twelve was transcribing solos from the great jazz masters. By the time she was fifteen, she was teaching piano and improvisation at one of Brazil's most prestigious schools of music. Her performing career began in Brazil at age seventeen, working with Brazilian singer/songwriter Toquinho and the great poet Vinicius de Moraes, who was also Antonio Carlos Jobim's co-writer/lyricist. In 1981, she headed for New York and in 1982 landed a spot in the acclaimed group Steps Ahead.
Her first album release was a collaboration with Randy Brecker entitled Amanda in 1984. Shortly thereafter her solo career began, spanning over twenty albums to date. In her work Elias has documented dozens of her own compositions, her outstanding piano playing and arranging, and beautiful vocal interpretations. All of her recordings have garnered a great deal of praise from the critics and all have topped the Billboard and jazz radio charts. In 1988 she was voted Best New Talent in the Critics Poll of Jazziz magazine.
