Eliane Elias Music

Deciding to record some unaccompanied music, the lovely Brazilian pianist Eliane Elias put out this superb instrumental CD. Solos and Duets is entirely jazz piano, made up of solo pieces performed by Eliane and her duets with jazz legend Herbie Hancock. The sound is really more like jazz/classical, for it does have a classical texture altho with the spontaneity and other elements of jazz. Indeed, Eliane plays the chords, but the better part for me is all the free-flowing piano notes, very pretty. The music ranges between straightforward interpretations of song structures and complete improvisation.

The songs on which Herbie and Eliane team up are the strongest. They are "Just Enough," penned by Eliane, and two lengthy numbers: Herbie's composition "The Way You Look Tonight" and the four-part improvisation "Messages," which they jointly wrote. Eliane's solo-performed tunes were written by a variety of other artists, including the creator of the Baiao genre, Luiz Gonzaga. His hit "Asa Branca," also known for MPB (musica popular brasileira) artist Caetano Veloso's 1971 version, is here given soft expression by Eliane's piano. She maintains some of the song's Brazilian rhythms and feel, but also does classical style improvisation. Jazziest and intense at times is "The Way You Look Tonight," in which Herbie and Eliane engage in some complex deliveries, with changes in tempo and direction and interesting asides, demonstrating why jazz is considered a genre without limitations. My favorite moment is "Just Enough," an exquisite work of compelling beauty. Solos and Duets is a tour de force, easy listening and beautiful music throughout.

Wow, what a talent. The prior reviews say it quite well, but only a listen will do the trick. There is something almost primal about the rhythms that just draw you into the groove. If you can stay still listening to this, you are better than I......

We all know what its like to buy a "greatest hits" and most of the time feel that we didn't get what we really wanted or even paid for! Producers and record companies want us to pay another gazzillion dollars for us to finally get the music that we wanted all along! We can't truly blame them though, their just trying to make a living like the rest of us, still its nice to know your wrong once in a while. This is a great CD, more than any other, it captures the truly gifted spirit of this wonderful and always interesting artist. If you love the piano and like Brazilian Jazz, even a little, your gonna get more than your moneys worth on this one.

The most sensitive jazz pianist since Bill Evans?

There are many superb jazz pianists out there - I could go on for a long, long time listing them. But what is that quality that makes a jazz pianist great - one whose playing becomes for many representative of a era - like Bill Evans (70's) - Oscar Peterson/McCoy Tyner (60's) - Oscar Peterson/Red Garland (50's) - Ellington (40's/50's) - Count Basie (30's/40's) - and Eliane Elias (90's/now)? Don't ask me - I don't know. Maybe the above listing is too brief - too random. But I ask you: is there not an Eliane Elias cd - you find totally, deeply addictive (as one reviewer put it) - on a very personal level - the way certain recordings by the others I've listed above got you?
This thorough compilation is a collection of masterpieces from her incredibly hot breakthrough years of the mid to late 90's - as good bossa nova piano as you will ever hear chances are - played with elan by the great Eliane.

Eliane Elias is one of the best musicians, without doubt. This CD is good. Sometimes she reminds me of Tania Maria, the next song is more ballad and smooth. Definitely her playing is tremendous, technically quite good. The track Night Timer reminds me then on Steps Ahead. Mix it a lot. Follow this beautifull piano diva!

I was so excited to see this album out! I am a huge Eliane Elias fan and this CD compiles many of her early recording that have now been discontinued. I loved this album and I know her fans will, too...Thanks!

I like the way she approaches her piano playing. Most jazz I don't like it can get too loosey goosey and it just doesn't seem to have a direction. This is pleasant to listen too. I probably shouldn't compare, but I enjoyed Dianna Krall's playing, but I think Eliane takes it to another level. Not that Krall doesn't have a great band and her own unique skill. I look forward to investigating this CD in the future. So far such CD's as Plays Jobin, Sings Jobin and Kissed by Nature are excellent.

As a listening experience Elaine Elias is somewhere and something else. This is not just an album of bossas or sambas - this is the stuff you listen to when you need to get into the heart and soul of music. From a rhythmic perspective these pieces are flat out astounding and I've listened to the Milton Nascimentos the Tania Marias and the Chick Coreas. Let me tell you, they can all learn something from Elaine Elias - she outdoes them all.
The fact that she can also swing with the best of them is the delicious icing on the best cake you ever had.

I will be relishing this album for a long time to come.

I have 6 of her CDs and this is one that I listen to most. The balance between superb straight ahead playing, imaginative originals and of course Elaine's captivting yet unusual vocals makes this a great CD. Buy this CD - you will wear it out.

I really like her music and playing , but this album is not that good . Cohesion is what is missing , too bad , not that there are no good tunes , there are , but kind of weak and disorginized for my taste ...

This CD hooked me the minute I heard the first note of the first track. Eliane Elias is a tremendous talent, and on this one surrounds herself with great material and great musicians. "Up and Dawn" is fabulous, as are both "The Time Is Now", and "Chorango". The highlight of the CD, for me, seems to be the "lowlight" for a few underinformed 'editorial reviewers' I have read. Elias' renditions of Jobim's "Chega de Saudade" and "Brigas Nunca Mais" feature the virtuoso guitar playing of Oscar Castro-Neves alone with Eliane's bossa-style vocals and 'Jobim-esque' piano solos. Some have refered to these tracks as "lightweight". You listen to the brilliance of Castro-Neves' stunning samba/bossa rhythms along with Elias' heartfelt vocal phrasings and tell me who is crazy - me or the reviewers. My one nitpick is that I feel the CD goes one song over where it should end. Still, a 5-star recording.

I picked this up for my husband because he enjoys jazz and the blues. (I also thought the cover was quite clever!). We've listened to this CD the most over the years at holiday season and have given it for a gift quite a few times. Many surprises and wonderful tunes...including a great one from Thelonious Monk. It's very "jazzy" but can also be background music at parties. People always say "what's this from" when we play it. Buy it, you won't be disappointed!

Get this CD just to listen to Eliane Elias' "Sleigh Ride." The other tracks are also great, but I keep listening to this one over and over.

I own many Christmas CDs. This one ranks in the Top 3. From the first track "Vauncing Chimes" on you are in for a smooth experience. Enjoy it!

I own about 6 or more Christmas jazz CDs/tapes but this remains my favorite - so much so that we now have to buy it again because we wore our the tape.

For us it is perfect background music for mellow parties, opening presents, dinner, etc. I have wonderful memories of listening to this tape in the car during long drives to the family.

But the CD is NOT elevator music - it's a quality collection, worth listening to with the volume up. Some of my Christmas jazz CDs tend to be un-imaginative saxophone versions of tired Christmas classics. Not this CD - the songs are original and creative.

Lastly, it is "approachable" - the kind of jazz that non-experts (like me) tend to understand and enjoy.

This is a jazzy blues yuletide compilation with classic jazz artists such as Chet Baker, Count Basie and Dexter Gordon playing some traditional holiday favorites. In addition, two versions of an original Thelonious Monk composition called "A Merrier Christmas" are also included. Contemporary jazz artists such as John Scofield and Benny Green also perform some compositions and vocal tracks by Lou Rawls and Dianne Reeves further add to the overall diversity of this compilation.

For those who can appreciate a more melancholic blend of yuletide jazz & blues, this is a great addition to the holiday collection.

First of all let me say this! Almost every single Pottery Barn cd is the best compilation of music! Great Artists singing the best hits! Go to your Local Pottery Barn and just listen to the hits.

I have almost every release by this unique and major Brazilian-New York talent, and this recording I think is her most timeless and wonderful - and my favorite. Every track is a modern jazz-samba jewel, overflowing with stunning harmonic piano verve and the most exquisitely melodic vocals. While all the tracks are standouts, deserving of special mention are the fabulous title track, the transcendent A Volta, the beautiful Aparecceu, the intensely melodic Perere and the swinging Djavan Medley. Highly recommended!

"Kissed By Nature" was released in 2002 by Blue Note Records and stands as one of pianist Elaine Elias' best work to date.

Many people complain about her vocals, but I don't find them annoying or distracting. I do agree, however, that her voice is not that strong and it's strengths are on ballads and not so much on uptempo tunes, but again, her voice isn't an issue for me.

This recording has several selling points for me. The two main ones being the songs "October" and "September" featuring Randy Brecker on trumpet and flugelhorn. I always knew Randy had some remarkable lyricism, but you wouldn't ever know judging by his own discography. Brecker simply surprised me on these compositions. His tone had such a delicate beauty. The other reason to get this album is hear one of the finest post-bop pianists in the past 20 years. She is truly a master of her instrument and plays with so much emotion and feeling. It's a constant joy to hear her play.

Elaine is joined by a stellar cast of musicians: Rick Margitza (tenor saxophone); Randy Brecker (trumpet, flugellhorn); Marc Johnson (bass); Paul Braga, and Joey Baron (drums, percussion). All of the musicians are outstanding and lend great support to Elias.

If you're new Elias' music don't hesitate to pick up a copy of this record. You will not be sorry.

As the other reviewers state , this is a very good combination of World Music through the voice of Eliane and her masterful hands . Bill Evans would have liked her playing and singing . Another reason to enjoy it . I do ...

Kissed by Nature is simply one beautiful album. Her vocals and playing are just stunning. One reviewer has noted something to the effect that she's maturing into a truly great artist -- a master if you will -- and I totally concur. Note that she's also the producer of her work, so this is a musician who knows what she wants her sound to be and she's really nailed it with Kissed by Nature.

All I can say is 5 stars, 5 stars plus.

As an old Bill Evans fan and also a bossa nova/samba fan, I was pleased to find out about Elaine Elias. She combines both styles seamlessly. That's a very high compliment, because Evans was never involved in bossa nova or latin music. If you're a Bill Evans fan, check her out. Her basist, Marc Johnson, was the basist in Bill Evans's last trio.