On Wednesday, February 17, 2010 (10PM), Brazilian jazz pianist, arranger, vocalist and songwriter Eliane Elias, together with bass player (and husband) Marc Johnson, guitarist Rubens de La Corte, and drummer Rafael Barata, perform a program of classic Bossa Nova and American songs (sung in English and Portuguese) at the legendary Carnegie Hall.
Eliane Elias
A pianist and singer who blends classic jazz piano and classic torch singing with the rhythms of her native Brazil, Eliane Elia is known for her distinctive and immediately recognizable musical style which blends her Brazilian roots with her impressive instrumental jazz, classical and compositional skills.
As a guest artist, she has appeared on performances and recordings with Joe Henderson, James Taylor, Michael Franks, Mingus Dynasty, Andy Summers, the Grammy winning Brecker Bros.’ Out of the Loop, Earl Klugh, Toots Thielemans Brazil Project , Ivan Lins, Denyce Graves, Steps Ahead, Calle 54, and Marc Johnson’s “Shades of Jade” on ECM Records – an instrumental recording she co-produced and contributed many of her own original compositions. “Shades of Jade” received the Danish Music Award as Best Foreign Release in March 2006.
Her 2008/ 2009 release “Bossa Nova Stories” is a celebration to the 50th Anniversary of the Bossa Nova and features her vocals accompanied by a stellar rhythm section and strings recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London. It achieved the following positions: Debuted at #1 on the French Charts (2008),#1 Vocal Album – Swing Journal, Japan (May-June 2008), #1 itunes Top Jazz Album (USA January 2009), #2 itunes Top Latin Album (USA January 2009), debuted at #2 on Billboard Magazine: both Overall and Jazz Charts (January 2009). Bossa Nova Stories was nominated by the Brazilian Grammys (20th Premio da Musica Brasileira, 2009 ) for Best Foreign Album. Eliane was the #2 artist in cd sales in France on the Annual Jazz Charts 2008.
Eliane Elias
Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Eliane 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.
Rex Reed of the New York Observer says, “I hadn’t found a combination of this many thrills in such a long time that I had given up trying.
At CARNEGIE HALL, 57th Street & 7th Avenue, New York City. For more information: http://www.carnegiehall.org or 212-247-7800.
