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Eliane Elias: Bossa Nova Stories

 A l b u m   D e t a i l s


Label: Blue Note
Released: 2009.01.13
Time:
 57:34
Category: Jazz
Producer(s): Eliane Elias, Steve Rodby
Rating:
Media type: CD
Web address: www.elianeelias.com
Appears with:
Purchase date: 2013
Price in €: 1,00





 S o n g s ,   T r a c k s


[1] The Girl From Ipanema - 5:23
[2] Chega De Saudade - 3:20
[3] The More I See You - 4:10
[4] They Can't Take That Away From Me - 3:43
[5] Desafinado - 3:23,
[6] Estate (Summer) - 5:17
[7] Day In Day Out - 4:18
[8] I'm Not Alone (Who Loves You?) - 4:47,
[9] Too Marvelous For Words - 3:52,
[10] Superwoman - 3:37
[11] Falsa Baiana - 4:00
[12] Minha Saudade - 2:08
[13] A Ra (The Frog) - 4:10
[14] Day By Day - 5:26

 A r t i s t s ,   P e r s o n n e l


Eliane Elias - Arranger, Producer, Vocals, Piano, Liner Notes

Oscar Castro-Neves - Guitar on [1-6,8-11,14]
Ricardo Vogt - Guitar on [7,13]
Marc Johnson - Bass
Paulo Braga - Drums, Percussion
Toots Thielmans - Harmonica on [6,10)
Ivan Lins - Vocal on [8]

Steve Rodby - Producer
Rob Mathes - Orchestration, Arrangement, Conductor on [1,3,5,6,8,9,14]
Joe Ferla - Mixing

 C o m m e n t s ,   N o t e s


CD 2009 Blue Note 50999 2281032 8
CD 2009 Blue Note 28103

Recorded at Avatar Studios, New York, NY; EMI Abbey Road Studios, London, England.

Now based in New York, Eliane Elias was born in Sao Paolo and grew up as a child prodigy on the piano during the 60's when Bossa Nova was conquering the world. Following the critically acclaimed Blue Note album "Eliane Sings and Plays Bill Evans" and 2 sold out shows at London's famed Ronnie Scott's in May, this album is a collection of Bossa Nova classics and bossa interpretations of some other classic songs performed with an all-star band of completely new recordings. Eliane is simply one of the world's great jazz pianists and her voice suits the Bossa Nova style perfectly. She is now one of the foremost interpreters of this style of music and this album is one of the best and most sought-after from the whole range of 50th anniversary releases this year.



In celebration of the silver anniversary of bossa nova, Brazil-born, New York-based vocalist / pianist Eliane Elias lovingly pays tribute to the music of her homeland with Bossa Nova Stories, a sublime 14-tune collection that captures the cool and alluring spirit of bossa nova. It’s the 21st recording of her career and her vocal delivery is a marvel of rhythmic freedom, swinging beautifully and wonderfully integrated with the syncopations of her piano or in counterpoint to the rhythm of the guitar. This is a true musician singing. Her voice, vocal phrasing, feel and interpretation place her at the top of this genre.

For this recording, she leads a top-notch band, all of whom are steeped in the bossa nova tradition, including guitarist Oscar Castro-Neves, drummer Paulo Braga, and bassist Marc Johnson. Guests include harmonica legend Toots Thielemans, Brazilian post-bossa singer / songwriter Ivan Lins, and up-and-coming guitarist Ricardo Vogt. Produced by Elias and Steve Rodby, the album also features seven tracks with full orchestration beautifully arranged and conducted by Rob Mathes, and recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London.

jpc.de



Eliane Elias returns to the music of her native Brazil with this collection of bossa nova favorites, though there are a few American standards and pop songs recast as bossa novas as well. The pianist has grown in confidence as a vocalist over the course of several CDs, developing a sexy yet never overdone style that beautifully complements the music. With her husband Marc Johnson (who has also been her longtime bassist of choice), drummer Paulo Braga, either Oscar Castro-Neves or Ricardo Vogt on acoustic guitar, and a pair of guests, Elias proves herself as a talented singing pianist, effortlessly switching between English and Portuguese lyrics. Some of the tracks add string orchestrations, yet they never overwhelm the arrangements. Highlights include the easygoing rendition of "The More I See You," the relaxed and sensual treatment of "Estate (Summer)" (which adds Toots Thielemans on harmonica), "I'm Not Alone (Who Loves You?)" (which includes composer Ivan Lins in a vocal duet with Elias), and a surprisingly effective setting of Stevie Wonder's "Superwoman" (with Thielemans making another guest appearance). Eliane Elias remains one of the top bossa nova interpreters, in addition to her skills in many other jazz styles.

Ken Dryden - AllMusic.guide



This terrific recording by Eliane Elias salutes the 50th anniversary of bossa nova in a number of explicit ways. For one thing, it contains the three most famous tunes by its most famous composer, Antonio Carlos Jobim ("Girl from Ipanema," "Desafinado," and "Chega de Saudade,"), where Elias paraphrases his familiar piano solos; for another, the generous use of strings is a nod to Jobim's classic albums with arranger Claus Ogerman. "It's a part of the sound," Elias explains, "and it suits the music so beautifully." Finally, there's the spirited participation of guitarist Oscar Castro-Neves and drummer Paulo Braga, both bossa nova pioneers who have long experience playing with Jobim.

Bossa Nova Stories is an ideal showcase for Elias, whose music is both grounded in tradition and full of surprises. Her last CD, Something for You, was a well-received tribute to Bill Evans which also yielded a concert of historic import as well.

This one includes her tropical take on hits by Stevie Wonder ("Superwoman") and Chris Montez ("The More I See You"), and gems by Johnny Mercer and George Gershwin. There are also newer Brazilian classics: "I'm Not Alone," composed by (and sung with) Ivan Lins, whom many consider to be Jobim's melodic successor, and the gorgeous "Estate" ("Summer"), which was written by two Italians, but transformed into a bossa anthem by Joao Gilberto (on his Live in Montreux album [Elecktra/Asylum/Nonesuch, 1985]). This "Estate" also features the legendary Toots Thielmans playing luscious harmonica at the age of 85. And as always, whatever the era or style of the music, Elias swings it like mad.

By now, Elias is well-established as an exceptional composer, singer, and classically-trained pianist. Her voice on Bossa Nova Stories is better than ever; it has evolved from soft and breathy to strong and compelling, which Elias attributes to a recent coach who "opened up a whole new world" for her. But some things never change, like her very Gilberto-like ability to float over the rhythm with impeccable time, and the fact that, if you listen carefully, you can hear her smile as she sings.

This CD will delight existing Elias fans, and invariably recruit many others. Elias's sound is unique and instantly identifiable, and she also possesses that rare ability to lift the spirits of everyone who hears her. Bossa Nova Stories is absolutely first-rate, joyous stuff and highly recommended.

DR. JUDITH SCHLESINGER - December 12, 2008
www.allaboutjazz.com



Since the 50th birthday of the bossa nova was officially celebrated in 2008, some might think Eliane Elias has arrived, gift in hand, a little late to the party. In fact, Bossa Nova Stories, recorded in New York (with the orchestra, added to half of the 14 tracks, recorded at London’s Abbey Road Studios), was released last year overseas and is only now landing on American shores. Among contemporary Brazilian jazz artists, it is hard to imagine a better choice than Elias to lead such a celebratory album.

Chronologically, she is two years younger than the bossa nova and two years older than Antonio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes’ iconic “The Girl From Ipanema,” the song that ignited the worldwide bossa-nova craze. Musically, with her honeyed voice, dense and luxurious as the finest Aubusson carpet, her equally sumptuous appeal as a pianist and her skill for subtle, cozy arrangements, Elias seems the living, breathing extension of the oxymoronic plush minimalism that defines bossa nova.

Working alongside four other noble ambassadors—drummer and percussionist Paulo Braga, bassist Marc Johnson and, sharing guitar duty, Ricardo Vogt and the singular Oscar Castro-Neves—she navigates all of bossa nova’s touchstones. There is “Chega de Saudade,” the Jobim-de Moraes masterpiece that, as interpreted by João Gilberto in 1958, signaled the birth of bossa nova from the more muscular samba. There is, of course, “The Girl From Ipanema” and “Desafinado,” and Gilberto and João Donato’s frisky “Minha Saudade.” Ivan Lins is lovingly acknowledged with a silken reading of his “I’m Not Alone” (with Lins himself twining voices with Elias). And, reminding us that wide swatches of the Great American Songbook have, over the years, been refitted as bossa novas, there are shimmering renditions of “The More I See You” and “Day by Day” (both re-popularized in the bossa style by slight-voiced Mexican-American Chris Montez in the mid-’60s), plus the Gershwins’ “They Can’t Take That Away From Me” and a double dip into the Johnny Mercer songbook for “Day In, Day Out” and “Too Marvelous for Words.”

Even Stevie Wonder is honored, with a breezy “Superwoman” that finds Wonder’s original harmonica passages replicated by Toots Thielemans. It is all exceptionally beautiful, and executed with the utmost intelligence and grace. But there is one track that rises, rather like Rio’s august Corcovado, above the rest. Coming aptly at the album’s center, it is a hushed, dusky rendering of “Estate” (again featuring Thielemans) that shimmers with a warm mysteriousness that suggests the majestic Cristo bathed in purple twilight.

Christopher Loudon
© 1999–2014 JazzTimes
 

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