Customer Reviews

Sings Jobim

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am great fan of Jobim's compositions. I have scores of CDs featuring his music, covering a wide range of styles and arrangements. This CD is one of my all-time favorites! The selection of songs includes widely-known classics like Desafinado and lesser-known works like Song of the Jet. These are among Jobim's best compositions in my opinion. Elias' arrangments are fresh, inventive, lightly jazzy, and never overbearing. The orchestration has a small combo feel to it -- there are no long-winded jazz solos or srypy string to be found here. Elias' piano playing controlled and imaginative, but it never gets in the way of the compositions themselves. Elias is not the world's best vocalist, but what she does works well on this CD. She has an on-key, soothing, vibrato-less voice that reminds me a little of Astrud G. I really love this CD. If you want a sophisticated, listenable, and modern interpretation of some of Jobim's classics - this is it.

Very little to be added...! I must accept that almost everything (I was going to say) about this CD, has already been said by almost all of the customer reviewers. This album IS a very good interpretation of some of Jobim's best. I find the comments by customer reviewer Clifford T. Dibble "...never overbearing, small combo feel", etc. perfectly reflecting my own discoveries. I'm also in complete agreement with S. Kelvin Yew from Singapore in-depth analysis, specially the comparisons with Elis Regina and a young Astrud Gilberto. Reviews by Gillian from Canada, "bossa lover" and "london rio newyork" are truly meaningful: please read them all-I can't agree more with all of their notes-. The sense of intimacy and warmth is well conveyed. The group backing is outstanding, and her playing never interferes with the original intentions of Jobim's minimalistic approach. Specially welcome is the use of string bass, against the ubiquitous "Fender-type" of electrical instrument that frequently spoils the true Bossa Nova sound. Brazilian drummer Paulo Braga also fits much more naturally than previous DeJohnette playing in 1990 release "Eliane plays Jobim" CD, at least much more naturally. Also appreciated is the precisely recorded sound of Eliane's perfectly tuned Steinway piano, less energetic than Tania Maria's but never overwhelming and perfectly blended with the sound of the rest of the group. Slightly dissapointing is the recorded sound of Oscar Castro-Neve's guitar, since his presence seems just a little laid back, lacking some luster and detail that this excellent guitarrist deserves. Breker's Sax sound appears just a little bit hollow, lacking the body and sensuousness that the late Stan Getz used to project, but classy enought to accompany Eliane's playing. Very few times so many customer reviews describe so well an album, therefore I cannot disagree more with the customer reviewer that rated this CD with only two stars; I guess he is just missing the point: it is Elia's voice lack of technical ability or range what allows her sheer, almost whispering beauty, really transmit the very essence of Bossa Nova, like Gilberto and Jobim (also subdued) voices firstly expressed it during the early 60's. Overall, very enjoyable and smooth, while being fresh and evolving at the same time, Elia's playing and arrangements introduce slightly different and new textures to the well known but not always well executed Jobim's masterpieces. Definitely recommended.

Anyone who loves Brazilian music, Jobim, jazz and bossa nova, cannot fail but love this album. Eliane's voice is beautiful and she sings without straining, her voice is but a breath of air, and is so relaxing. Her piano playing is second to none and the other musicians on this album are just as brilliant...Michael Brecker, Oscar Castro-Neves, Marc Johnson, Paulo Braga and Cafe. This is an album that has the ability to transport you to a warm Brazilian beach, even in the midst of a cold Canadian winter. Just put it on, close your eyes, and get ready for the sun!

Eliane Elias put together a terrific band, including Michael Brecker, Oscar Castro-Neves (producer as well) and Marc Johnson to make this outstanding recording.

It's an elegant, classy, swinging album of Johim favorites that just doesn't have any weaknesses. Elias' singing and piano playing are especially beautiful on the ballads, but she and her band also really swing and groove on the uptempo tunes.

If you're a fan of the Brasilian genre you must own this side. If you want a great album to help set a romantic mood, this is one to have. Or, if you're a jazz fan, interested in all idioms of the music, it's a contemporary essential.

To paraphrase the liner notes of a Jobim tribute album, while Charlie Parker played, musicians simply stopped playing, but when Jobim played, they would pick up their instruments again. This double-edged compliment also meant that just about anyone would attempt a Jobim tribute album.

So along comes Brazillian Eliane Elias, while herself not a Carioca, her bossanova pedigree extends to having worked with Vinicius De Moraes, Antonio Carlos Jobim's co-writer, at the age of seventeen. Comparisons with Jobim and Astrud Gilberto are expected on this album, especially with Jobim as she plays the piano and sings on all her tracks.

As a vocalist, her style contrasts with the coy and inexperienced charm of a then young Gilberto. This is a confident singer eager to stamp her own style with innovative rhythms and counterpoints, perhaps stylistically more influenced by Elis Regina.

Take "Girl from Ipanema", where the backphrased introduction sets up the tune beautifully. And if you've heard countless bands race through "One note samba", you're in for a pleasant surprise. Elias cools down the tempo with a degree subtlety reminiscent of Miles. Her vocals carry song more than halfway before any significant instrumental support. Her vocals are more regular, in contrast to Jobim's more laid back legato singing style. Her interpretation of Desafinado (slightly off key), is more rhythmic, but the difference ends here.

As a pianist, she excells beautifully as well. Long her forte, she has taught the instrument since the age of 15 in Sao Paolo. Her piano inprovisations come off as more jazz influenced than samba, making for a happy marriage. Not especially adventurous, and certainly throwing no Jobim afficionados any surprises, she has mostly stuck closely to Jobim's arrangements on the bossanova pieces albeit in a jazzier, more polished setting - minus the slightly annoying strings which 60s jazz artistes love using to add body to their work (think Wes Montgomery).

Elias' treatment of the seldom recorded Modinha is an exhibition of her jazz improvisation and vocal skill. Listen to the original on Elis & Tom before her version to fully appreciate the depth of her musicality. If there's anything to fault this album on, is its penchant for treading on safe ground. A supporting cast of well known jazz musicians (including brother-in-law Michael Brecker), Oscar Castro-Neves on guitar, Marc Johnson (acoustic bass, background vocals) and Paulo Braga (drums, bongos, background vocals) compliment her well.

Recommended: for the Jobim fan who appreciates the beauty of his compositions in any setting. This is definitely one of the better Jobim tribute albums you'll find out there.

The romanticism of Brazilian music is back! My taste in Brazilian music is more for the earthiness of street samba or the mellow inti- macy of bossa nova & Eliane nails it with her renditions of the Jobim classics. I've always admired her as a pianist but her singing is on par with any contemporary Brazilian vocalist in the "bossa" genre & she probably surpasses most. Just as Tania Maria seems to "sing her personality" I feel that Eliane does the same.

It's a great CD & her rhythm section is burnin' (with a Brazilian groove).

A wonderful collection of Jobim's best songs. Eliane has a very light voice which hardly rises above a whisper throughout. The instrumental backing is outstanding, with Eliane's own excellent piano, Oscar Castro Neves on guitar, fine Brazilian percussion and Michael Brecker throwing in a few sax solos (Eliane is married to the other Brecker brother). Songs such as Caminos Cruzados, Falando de Amor and Anos Dourados make this a must for all Jobim fans.

For sheer beauty of voice, and not technical ability or range, Elias is unmatched in my opinion. She embodies the essence of bossa nova in her voice, singing just above a whisper, never straining, yet always retaining a certain fullness. Elias is probably my favorite female Brazilian vocalist, with Regina, Gal Costa, and Nana Caymmi being my other favorites. This is the first album which has featured her vocals centrally, and while critics may attack her for not having an abundance of technical ability or range, they miss the point. She EXUDES the underlying sensibilities of bossa nova, the quiet fire and understated passion that Gilberto and Jobim had. Overall a wonderful album, with interesting harmonizations and arrangements, accentuating that unbelievable voice of Elias' which has mesmerized me ever since I first heard it.

As a music lover, I found her CD very smooth. It's the type of music that goes with a candlelight dinner on a terrace overlooking the ocean. It's smooth like the ocean winds cooling down your warm skin. Sassy!

If you've ever been in love with the classic Getz/Gilberto album, this album will make you very happy. This is one of the best new jazz albums I've bought in a long time and in some ways even better than Getz/Gilberto. Elias is one of the worlds greatest jazz pianists and she has a great group of musicians with her on this album, including michael brecker and brazilian guitarest Oscar Neves. Combine great jazz musicians with the bossa nova melodies of Jobim sung in their native portugese brazilian, and the effect is pure magic. Sensuous, seductive and joyous music that even non jazz fans will love (i know, my wife loves this album and she doesn't like jazz), you can't go wrong with this one!