Eliane Elias
Light My Fire
Concord Picante
www.concordmusicgroup.com
By George W. Harris

When you think of Brazilian songstresses, for some reason Eliane Elias
doesn’t come up on your short list. Same for jazz pianists, but as
she’s shown on recent outings as Something For You, she’s a force to be
reckoned with. This latest release emphasizes her seductively breathy
vocals sprinkled over samba-ized covers of tunes like the title track
and “My Cherie Amour,” as well as more traditional fair like Gilberto
Gil’s “Bananeira.” She adds lyrics to a clever reading of Kenny
Dorham’s “Una Mas” (“Stay Cool”) that includes Randy Brecker’s lovely
flugelhorn, while her own “What About The Heart” oozes warmth and
passion. Guest guitarists abound here, with Oscar Castro Neves
supplying the lion’s share of ebullient rhythms, as on “Rosa Morena”
while Gilberto Gil and Romero Lubambo create breezy atmosphere’s on
“Toda Menina Baiana” and “Take Five” respectively. I just don’t know
what else you’re going to want from a Brazilian artist, as if you’re
looking for something besides this, then you want the Macarena.