Home » Jazz Articles » Catching Up With » Eliane Elias: Chanteuse
Eliane Elias: Chanteuse
The human voice, singing the words, is a big form of expression
—Eliane Elias
Singer.
She probably always sang, even as a child and then a child prodigy, studying piano at age seven and teaching piano and improvisation in Sao Paulo at age 15 (her performing career began at 17, working with Brazilian icons Toquinho, Vinicius de Moraes and
Antonio Carlos Jobim
piano1927 - 1994
Over the last decade or so, each recording project has shown something different, all including her magnificent piano approach. But many have also brought her voice to the forefront. I Thought About You (Concord Jazz, 2013) is a tribute to
Chet Baker
trumpet and vocals1929 - 1988
Now arrives Love Stories (Concord Jazz, 2019), imbued with lush arrangements and the typical passion that marks all of her work. It was created in trying times for Elias, but like diamonds and pearls, the pressure culminated in beauty. She is also arranger, composer, lyricist and producer. Sung almost completely in English, the album features original compositions and arrangements of songs made famous by
Frank Sinatra
vocals1915 - 1998
She first sang classic Jobim songs on Eliane Elias Sings Jobim (Blue Note, 1998). But a decade later, she told All About Jazz: "I heard one of my recordings from years ago, and it sounds like a different person. It was so shy, the way I used the voice ... and then I started doing more and more, and I started feeling so comfortable, the place that I got with the voice."
In August 2019, Elias is assured and at home. "I'm in a whole different place, vocally speaking," she says from her Long Island, NY residence. "The human voice, singing the words, is a big form of expression. It's very different, using your voice than playing on the piano. At first, when I started singing, I used to resist giving everything up to the voice. Today, I am comfortable. Especially this record. It really focuses on the arranging. I always play the piano, write the arrangements. But the voice is featured.
"The idea for this album was to bring to life various stories of love and loving through this collection of songs."
Brazilian guitarist Marcus Texiera and drummers
Edu Ribeiro
drums
Rafael Barata
drums
Marc Johnson
bassb.1953
Robert Matheson
bass, acoustic
Patti Austin
vocalsb.1948
" I love the process," she says of the development of Love Stories. "From the moment I start coming up with a song and figuring out what key I'm going to sing it in and how I'm going to create the arrangement and a beautiful recording. It was beautiful to be able to express what was inside my head and inside my heart. It was really beautiful. Special."
More remarkable, considering the circumstances. She worked on the music for Love Stories, through breaking her shoulder while in Sao Paulo and, soon after, her the passing of her father. Elias had to remain immobile for months while recovering in her apartment there.
"I wasn't allowed to move, my left arm was in a sling and so, to avoid surgery, I had to stay immobilized and really still. I shattered my whole left shoulder. With surgery it could happen that I would be unable to play," she says. Rather than take the chance on losing her ability to play her instrument, "the doctors took what they called a conservative approach." Elias continues. "By doing that approach, I had to be immobilized. I couldn't move an inch for over six weeks. It was a difficult period for me, but at the same time, I found myself with time on my hands. That's when I realized I could only just move my right hand to write on music paper. Those tunes really focus on the voice and the stories they tell. I'm thrilled we were able to get the recording done for everyone."
It came out the way I dreamed," says Elias with her soft, but confident demeanor. "I had the vision first of: What is it that I'm hearing? What is it that I myself would like to be hearing when I'm just sitting here at home? That's how it started. Researching the material and what would feel good to me. This one was really focused on the voice, the arranging and the stories. In the middle of all that was happening, I lost my father, which was very difficult for me. There are no words for that. What I had to communicate with was my voice."
Attend a concert by Elias or listen to any of her jazz albums with the likes of
Eddie Gomez
bassb.1944
Jack DeJohnette
drumsb.1942
Randy Brecker
trumpetb.1945
Billy Hart
drumsb.1940
Joe Lovano
drumsb.1952
Herbie Hancock
pianob.1940
Joao Gilberto
vocals1931 - 2019
"It depends on what I'm singing, but so important to me is Frank Sinatra during his golden, beautiful period, and Joao Gilberto. Joao Gilberto phrased in a way that was over the bar line and he accompanied himself. I relate a lot to a singer playing an instrument, accompanying themselves. He had a way of singing that was quiet. He had a way of singing that had great rhythm, but not like those crooners of the '50s that were loud. He was soft. With the invention of the microphone, he did really well," Elias says with a chuckle. "Frank Sinatra, the way he phrased. Every word means something. You really feel it. Those two were great influences."
"I have always had very eclectic tastes. I like good music. I like good songs. But I have always been able to hear songs, re-imagine them, and make something with them. The words, I want them to speak and bring a message. It's a whole other world to be able to bring that. Love Stories is a record that is 99 percent English. The previous two or three albums were not. This is new. The songs needed to do that," says Elias. "If a record is Brazilian or Portuguese, I can have different choice of material and styles and things. It's a fountain of inspiration that doesn't go away. There's a lot there that I like to do. Sometimes I'm sitting down and something crosses my mind. I write down. What is the meaning of that tune? I look for it and keep a list of things that I like to do, how I hear them or remember them. I write things, lyrics and things. It's a process to get them shaped a certain way."
September, 2019 started a brisk touring schedule. Elias is a road warrior whose concerts take her around the world to joyful audiences.
"When I do a show, I always sing, but I also accompany myself and play," Elias says. "I always have moments when the band is featured and I'm featured on piano, of course. But I always sing. I open up with a song to solo more and open up the arrangement. I bring some things that are staples [from older records] that I know people want to hear and that I know so much from playing them. That's what I will be doing. Music from Love Stories, but also music from other recordings, and opening them up for a live performance."
Another recording is already being considered.
Tags
Interviews
Eliane Elias
R.J. DeLuke
United States
New York
New York City
Antonio Carlos Jobim
Chet Baker
frank sinatra
Jack DeJohnette
randy brecker
Joe Lovano
Herbie Hancock
Joao Gilberto
Comments
PREVIOUS / NEXT
Eliane Elias Concerts
Oct
10
Fri
Eliane Elias
Turkcell Platinum Sahnesi?stanbul, Turkey
Nov
8
Sat
Eliane Elias
Blues AlleyWashington, DC
Nov
8
Sat
Eliane Elias
Blues AlleyWashington, DC
Nov
9
Sun
Eliane Elias
Blues AlleyWashington, DC
Nov
9
Sun
Eliane Elias
Blues AlleyWashington, DC
Nov
18
Tue
Eliane Elias
BirdlandNew York, NY
Nov
18
Tue
Eliane Elias
BirdlandNew York, NY
Nov
19
Wed
Eliane Elias
BirdlandNew York, NY
Support All About Jazz
All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.
Go Ad Free!
To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.
New York City
Concert Guide | Venue Guide | Local Businesses
| More...
Buy Now
