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 Brazilian-born,
New York-based pianist-vocalist-composer Eliane Elias makes her
Bluebird Jazz debut with the sumptuous Kissed by Nature, a 13-track
collection comprised of ten original vocal and instrumental
compositions, a medley of two tunes by the great Brazilian songwriter
Djavan and two bonus track remixes produced by the popular Brazilian
DJ team BossaCucaNova. The CD will be released on September 24.
While continuing to exercise her
prowess as a top-notch jazz artist, Elias expands her creative vision
on Kissed by Nature by adding new textures, colors and shapes to her
music. She delivers coolly romantic and reflective ballads and
swinging upbeat cookers that are infused with Brazilian music
influences and buoyed by the leader's command of jazz improvisation.
"I wanted to make a record that could be listened to when you
just want to relax," says Elias. "Instead of creating an
album of pianistic virtuosity, I set out to make music that is
beautiful as well as artistically engaging."
Kissed by Nature features Elias'
sweetly expressive piano playing and her soft, sensuous vocals that
complement her instrumental phrasing. She notes that many of the
tracks on the album were inspired by nature. "I wrote most of
these songs when I was at my home in the Hamptons. I'm in the woods,
close to the beach. The tunes reflect that." For the bulk of the
album, Elias works in a trio format with bassist Marc Johnson (who
co-produced the album with her) and alternating
drummers/percussionists Joey Baron and Paolo Braga. Also appearing on
a couple of tracks are Randy Brecker on trumpet and flugelhorn Rick
Margitza on tenor saxophone. Elias stretches vocally on this album-in
English and Portuguese as well as with wordless vocals-more so than
earlier outings. She says, "I wasn't planning to sing as much as
I do, but that's the direction the album took while I was
writing."
Many of Elias' new songs came
ready-made. "I love those moments when the inspiration is there
and the tune just comes," she says. "That's how 'Kissed by
Nature' arrived. It was a gift. It was like that with 'A Volta' too.
It's a love song, like most of these tunes." In addition to
several reflective gems on the CD-including two songs from a Danish
project she worked on a couple of years ago: the sobering
"October" with Brecker on muted trumpet and the mournful
"September" with Brecker on flugelhorn-there are
groove-oriented tunes such as the soulful "Luar" with its
bossa nova/choro feel and the joyous medley of Djavan's "Fato
Consumado" and "Dobrado" (which marks the first time
Elias has recorded his material).
Other highlights include the
rhythmic "Balancê," featuring Elias' alluring piano
harmonies and sultry vocals, and the rousing "Manhattan," a
celebration of her home spiced by clapping rhythms and Braga's
percussion. "I wrote that song with my mother over the phone
when she was in Brazil during Carnaval," Elias says. "I was
watching the celebration on Global TV and I caught the spirit. We
wrote it without the piano, just singing the melody and words
together back and forth. I love it because of its simplicity."
The CD is marked by two hip
electronic remixes of the upbeat title track and the equally rhythmic
"Balancê." Elias says that she was approached by her
new label to consider using some of her material in this way. "I
said I'd have to see if I liked what the DJs came up with," she
says. "I listened to a couple of records by BossaCucaNova and I
liked their approach. Then when I heard their remixes of two of my
songs, I loved them. They are so good. I'm very pleased with what
these young guys did. It would be great if they could open my music
up to a new audience."
Kissed by Nature is the latest
triumph in Elias' illustrious career. Born and raised in São
Paulo, Brazil, she began playing the piano at an early age, immersing
herself first in the music of her country then later studying the
works of jazz pianists Art Tatum and Bud Powell. She worked in local
jazz and bossa nova clubs, then hit the international circuit when
she was 17, working with two of Brazil's greats, Toquinho and
Vinicius de Moraes. Her exceptional performance as a pianist led her
to New York in 1981. After a stint in the fusion group Steps Ahead,
Elias formed her own band and made her first recording as a leader in
1986. In 1988, she began a long association with Blue Notes Records,
making over a dozen albums for the imprint, including the 1995 album
Solo and Duets with Herbie Hancock. Described by Musician magazine as
"a landmark in piano duo history," it was nominated for a
Grammy in the Best Solo Jazz Performance category.
Recently Elias was a featured
performer in Calle 54, director Fernando Trueba's documentary film on
Latin jazz. The soundtrack album was nominated for a 2001 Grammy in
the Best Latin Jazz Album category. In the same year, Elias was also
nominated for a Grammy in the Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album category
for her album Impulsive! with Bob Brookmeyer and the Danish Radio
Jazz Orchestra.
During the course of her career,
Elias has performed in a range of settings, from straight-ahead jazz
to free-style improvisation, and has offered distinctive renditions
of a variety of Brazil's music, including intricate bossa nova and
moving interpretations of classic tunes by her country's great
songwriters. With Kissed by Nature, she delivers another remarkable
album that affirms-and furthers-her reputation as both an
extraordinary pianist, composer and sensuous vocalist.
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