‘Bossa Nova Stories’ is album number 21 in the glittering recording career of singer, pianist and songwriter, Eliane Elias. She is an artist who is renowned both for her distinctive and immediately recognizable musical style and the way she uses her sensuous, alluring voice to blend her Brazilian roots with impressive instrumental jazz and classical skills. Consequently it is no surprise that this impressive 14 song album has been recorded as a tribute to the music of Eliane’s homeland and in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Bossa Nova music. It finds her leading a top-notch line-up of backing musicians all of whom are steeped in the best traditions of Bossa Nova and who include guitarist Oscar Castro-Neves, drummer Paulo Braga and bassist Marc Johnson. Among the guests are harmonica legend Toots Thielemans, Brazilian singer songwriter Ivan Lins and up and coming guitarist Ricardo Vogt. The album, which was produced by Elias and Steve Rodby, features seven tracks with full orchestration that were recorded at Abbey Road Studios, in London and beautifully arranged by Rob Mathes.
As a guest artist Eliane Elias has performed and recorded with Joe Henderson, James Taylor, Michael Franks, Andy Summers, the Brecker Brothers, Earl Klugh, Toots Thielemans, Herbie Hancock and, most recently, Marc Johnson for his 2005 CD ‘Shades of Jade’. Her big break came in 1983 when she was invited to join the jazz super-group Steps Ahead. She recorded one album with them before beginning a collaboration with trumpet player Randy Brecker to whom she was subsequently married. Their sole duo album, released in 1985, was named after their daughter Amanda. Since then, in a career that has been generously patterned with awards and Grammy nominations, she has become recognized as the preeminent interpreter of the works of Antonio Carlos Jobim. Indeed Eliane has been featured on many concert tributes to Jobim and recorded two albums solely dedicated to his music, ‘Plays Jobim’ and ‘Sings Jobim’. Her 2006 album ‘Around The City’ combined notable pop standards with a fresh blend of vocal and songwriting collaborations with producers Andres Levin and Lester Mendez. It was followed by ‘Something for You: Eliane Elias Sings and Plays Bill Evans’ that was released early in 2008 to critical acclaim.
In fact the official birth date of Bossa Nova hearkens back to Brazil in 1958 when guitarist João Gilberto recorded the seminal ‘Chega de Saudade’ that was written by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes. Here Eliane’s version of this timeless tune is spellbinding and her take on the equally evocative ‘Girl From Ipanema’ is just as good. However, a facet of ‘Bossa Nova Stories’ is not only the way in which Eliane captures the cool and alluring spirit of Bossa Nova but also the sophisticated selection of tracks she employs to do so. Side by side with Brazilian masterpieces such as Jobim’s ‘Desafinado’ and the Donato – Gilberto composition ‘Minha Saudade’ sit gems from the great American songbook that include ‘The More I See You’, ‘Day In Day Out’ and ‘Too Marvelous For Words’. However, a real surprise is the inclusion of Stevie Wonder’s 1972 classic ‘Superwoman’ that in Eliane’s reliable charge proves to be an intoxicating pleasure.
Collectively the entire project is a sheer delight, as comforting as it is compelling and, for those who have yet to do so, the perfect way to capture the magic of Bossa Nova.
For more and to get the latest on Eliane Elias go to www.elianeelias.com.