Eliane Elias | |
|---|---|
 Elias in 2004 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1960-03-19)19 March 1960 (age 65) São Paulo, Brazil |
| Genres | Jazz,bossa nova,Brazilian andLatin jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, pianist, composer, arranger, producer |
| Instrument(s) | Piano, vocals |
| Years active | 1981–present |
| Labels | Denon,Blue Note,EMI,RCA,Sony/BMG,ECM,Concord,Candid |
| Website | Official site |
Eliane Elias (born 19 March 1960) is a Brazilianjazz pianist, singer, composer and arranger.[1][2][3]
Elias was born inSão Paulo, Brazil, on 19 March 1960. She started studying piano when she was seven, and at age twelve she was transcribing solos from jazz musicians. She began teaching piano when she was fifteen,[4] and began performing at seventeen with Brazilian singer-songwriterToquinho and touring with the poetVinicius de Moraes. At that age she was also invited to tour with Antônio Carlos Jobim, considered the pioneer of Bossa Nova music.
In 1981 she moved to New York City, where she attendedThe Juilliard School of Music.[5] A year later she became part of the groupSteps Ahead.[6] In 1993 Elias signed withEMI Classics to recordclassical pieces, which were released onOn the Classical Side.[5]
In 2001,Calle 54, a documentary film by Spanish directorFernando Trueba, included Elias performing "Samba Triste." In 1990 she released Eliane Elias Plays Jobim dedicated to the works of Antônio Carlos Jobim. Her thirteenth album, Eliane Elias Sings Jobim, is a second round of Jobim's music. It was released on July 28, 1998 via Blue Note label. In 2002 she recordedThe Lost Days withDenyce Graves, for whom she wrote a composition entitled "HaabiaTupi." In 2002, Elias signed with RCA/Bluebird, which issuedKissed by Nature.Dreamer was released in 2004 and received the Gold Disc Award, as well as being voted Best Vocal Album in Japan. It reached No. 3 on the pop charts in France and No. 4 on theBillboard magazine charts in the U.S.Around the City was released by RCA Victor in August 2006.[4] In 2007, Elias releasedSomething for You, which won Best Vocal Album of the Year and the Gold Disc Award in Japan.Something for You reached No. 1 on the U.S. jazz charts, No. 8 onBillboard, and No. 2 on the French jazz charts. In 2008, she recordedBossa Nova Stories to celebrate the 50th anniversary of bossa nova.[6]
In 2009, EMI Japan releasedEliane Elias Plays Live.Light My Fire, released in 2011, features four compositions written or co-written by Elias and includes covers of songs by the Doors, Stevie Wonder, and Paul Desmond. In September 2011, her song "What About the Heart (Bate Bate)" was nominated for aLatin Grammy in the category of Best Brazilian Song. In 2012, she collaborated with bassist Marc Johnson on the albumSwept Away, the Editor's and Critics' choice in 2012DownBeat andJazztimes magazines, respectively. Her 2013 release,I Thought About You, reached No. 1 on the U.S. and French Amazon.com websites; No. 2 on iTunes U.S., France and Brazil; and No. 4 onBillboard.
Made in Brazil was followed byDance of Time, which debuted at No. 1 on twoBillboard: jazz and world music. BothMade in Brazil andDance of Time debuted at No. 1 on iTunes in seven countries and won Grammy awards for Best Latin Jazz Album of the Year.[7]
Her 2019 albumLove Stories reached the No. 1 position as Best Seller Amazon.com Latin Jazz, #1 Best Seller Amazon.com Brazilian Jazz and #2 Best Seller Amazon.com Orchestral.
Her 2021 albumMirror, Mirror, which she recorded withChick Corea andChucho Valdés, won theGrammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album.
Elias is Brazilian of Italian, Lebanese and Spanish descent.[8] She was married to American trumpeterRandy Brecker, with whom she has a daughter, the singer/songwriter Amanda Elias Brecker, born in 1984.[6] She marriedMarc Johnson in 1999, who plays bass in her band and co-produces her recordings.[7]
WithSteps Ahead
