In the second half of her 100-minute performance, Brazilian jazz pianist and singer Eliane Elias performed the famous song ‘Desafinado’ composed by the legendary Antonio Carlos Jobim. The audience was familiar with the tune, and the throbbing bass solo and catchy drums added to their delight. The encore song, along with Jobim’s big hits ‘The Girl from Ipanema’ and ‘So Dance Samba’, had the audience singing along.
Elias certainly reserved the familiar pieces for last. Most of his recent show at the Tata Theatre in Mumbai included tunes from his own catalogue written in Portuguese by popular Brazilian composers. This included bossa nova composer Carlos Lyra’s ‘Vos es Eu’, Dorival Caymmi’s ‘Saudade da Bahia’ and Ary Barroso’s ‘Aquarela do Brasil’. There were also film tunes like ‘To Each His Dulcinea’ The Man of La Manchawhich started the show, and ‘A Felicidade’ Black OrpheusWritten by Jobim.
Elias, looking beautiful on a Steinway grand piano, kept the crowd captivated with his elegant playing style and explained the compositions, helping the audience appreciate them better. There were a few interruptions, as his voice sounded low in the mix in the first few numbers. Leandro Pellegrino’s guitar was not heard consistently, and he did not get a solo. There was also an early, unplanned break when Elias was unhappy with the presence of a videographer.
Eliane Elias was recently on her first visit to India.
Once she calmed down, listening to Elias was a wonderful experience, with bassist Marc Johnson and drummer Rafael Barata providing excellent accompaniment. The show was a mix of bossa nova and samba tunes, though one wished she had also sung some of the English songs she had recorded. Her rendition of ‘Esta Tarde Vi Llover’, which she recorded as a duet with Cuban great Chucho Valdés, and the instrumental version of ‘At First Sight’ from her June 2024 album were some of the best performances of her career. FrequentlyDemonstrated his skill on the piano.
This was Elias’ first visit to India, which she said was the 78th country she had visited. Now 64, the Sao Paulo-born musician began learning piano at the age of seven and quickly mastered it. “My mother played classical piano and loved jazz pianists. She had a large jazz collection and by the time I was 10, I was writing down solos of my favourite pianists,” she recalls.
Initially, Elias was known for her piano skills, although she also occasionally performed wordless vocals. She developed her own style of playing samba on the piano. She says, “I toured with singer-guitarist Toquinho and songwriter Vinicius de Moraes, and we traveled around South America in the late 1970s. Samba is usually played by guitarists and percussionists, so I developed my own style of playing samba on the piano.”
His inclination towards singing songs grew gradually and culminated in 1998 with the album Eliane sings Elias JobimShe explains, “When I sang in live shows, I found that I reached the audience in a different, more meaningful way. Singing helped me add more songs to my repertoire.”
mirror Mirror Elias received the Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album – which he previously won for his 2015 album, made in Brazil.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Elias has also played on albums by the Brecker Brothers, saxophonist Joe Henderson, guitarist Earl Klugh, and former Police member Andy Summers. In 2021, he released the album mirror MirrorWhich includes duets with legendary pianists Chick Corea and Chucho Valdez. She says, “I have known Chick since my early days of piano recording. We kept in touch and often talked about recording a duet. As for Chucho, I always wanted to record with him since I heard him play with his father, Bebo.”
mirror Mirror Elias received the Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album – which he previously won for his 2015 album, made in Brazil. After this in 2022 CalmnessA bossa nova album featuring some of his favorite Brazilian songs. It includes tunes associated with Rio de Janeiro, where bossa nova developed, and the northeastern state of Bahia, home to many great musicians.
on his new album FrequentlyElias has worked with special guests including guitarist Bill Frisell and Brazilian singer Dajavan. “Each song hits a different emotional spot, from excitement and euphoria to contemplation and light-hearted humor,” she says.
Elias says her main focus has been on exploring the rich music of Brazil. “The musicians of the mid-to-late 20th century have contributed so much, and the language of jazz allows for dialogue in music. Jazz works with all music, and blends beautifully with Brazilian music,” she says. In her four-decade-long recording career, Elias has carried the spirit of Brazilian jazz to different countries.
