Customer Reviews

The Three Americas

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

 

 

This CD hooked me the minute I heard the first note of the first track. Eliane Elias is a tremendous talent, and on this one surrounds herself with great material and great musicians. "Up and Dawn" is fabulous, as are both "The Time Is Now", and "Chorango". The highlight of the CD, for me, seems to be the "lowlight" for a few underinformed 'editorial reviewers' I have read. Elias' renditions of Jobim's "Chega de Saudade" and "Brigas Nunca Mais" feature the virtuoso guitar playing of Oscar Castro-Neves alone with Eliane's bossa-style vocals and 'Jobim-esque' piano solos. Some have refered to these tracks as "lightweight". You listen to the brilliance of Castro-Neves' stunning samba/bossa rhythms along with Elias' heartfelt vocal phrasings and tell me who is crazy - me or the reviewers. My one nitpick is that I feel the CD goes one song over where it should end. Still, a 5-star recording.

Eliane's goal was to present the Three Americas -- North, Central, and South -- in this CD. Flutist Dave Valentin of Puerto Rico in four tracks and some Cuban rhythms in "Caipora" and "The Time Is Now" do bring a broader geographic flavor to the songs. Some American jazz elements are present in "Jumping Fox" and (perhaps) "Crystal and Lace." Eliane shows her versatility as a songwriter in presenting us with a lively Argentine tango in "Chorango," a solid track in which Gil Goldstein kicks in with an accordion. Still, with three Brazilian covers and nine songs penned by a Brazilian lady (one of which is an introduction to one of the covers), this is first and foremost a Brazilian music CD. That this would be the case is suggested by the opening track, "An Up Dawn," which instantly reveals its Brazilian musical lines and bouncy rhythms.

The covers are "O Guarani," in which Eliane plays a very pretty slow piano, and the bossa nova classics "Chega de Saudade" and "Brigas, Nunca Mais." These two are the only tracks in which she sings (she does some occasional harmonies in four of her nine otherwise instrumental songs). Still, I like to buy Eliane's CDs to listen to her original compositions, even without vocals. I also tend to like it more when she sticks to her Brazilian roots. Brazilian music, of course, can sound exotic in itself, but when it is combined with other Latin music, it is even more so. For me the most exotic song is "Jungle Journey": It really takes you to the tropics. Eliane's virtuoso piano work is enjoyable whatever she does, and she shows a fair amount of imagination in this CD. "The Three Americas" is an easy 4 stars, and I hold back from a 5th by only a whisker.

Eliane gives us a sample of her perceptions of the music of both Latin America and North America, forming a cohesive and interesting whole. I'm a bit biased because I'm in love with her voice, but the instrumentals really aren't ALL consistent--thus the 4 stars. The best tracks are by far the 2 vocal Jobim renditions of "Brigas, Nunca Mais" and perhaps my favorite Jobim tune of all "Chega de Saudade". These 2 songs alone make the album worth buying; they are at once seductive, subtle, and sublime. They capture the essence of bossa nova without sounding retrograde. The first track is also a wonderful treat, signifying to me the joy of awakening to a new day, a new era, a new love.

I have 6 of her CDs and this is one that I listen to most. The balance between superb straight ahead playing, imaginative originals and of course Elaine's captivting yet unusual vocals makes this a great CD. Buy this CD - you will wear it out.

I like the way she approaches her piano playing. Most jazz I don't like it can get too loosey goosey and it just doesn't seem to have a direction. This is pleasant to listen too. I probably shouldn't compare, but I enjoyed Dianna Krall's playing, but I think Eliane takes it to another level. Not that Krall doesn't have a great band and her own unique skill. I look forward to investigating this CD in the future. So far such CD's as Plays Jobin, Sings Jobin and Kissed by Nature are excellent.

i arrived late at the eliane elias fan club, but when I did join the club it was with great enthusiasm. she is a terrific performer and her album "dreamer", for example, remains a favorite. but "the three americas" is just noise . . . a great deal of noise!! reminds me of a little girl trying to dress-up in her mommies jewelry --- and put on globs of rings and braclets and earrings and . . . there's just too much of a display of "see what I can do". the cd was an overwhelming disappointment executed by someone who i think is extremely talented. what was she thinking when she produced this??

As a listening experience Elaine Elias is somewhere and something else. This is not just an album of bossas or sambas - this is the stuff you listen to when you need to get into the heart and soul of music. From a rhythmic perspective these pieces are flat out astounding and I've listened to the Milton Nascimentos the Tania Marias and the Chick Coreas. Let me tell you, they can all learn something from Elaine Elias - she outdoes them all.
The fact that she can also swing with the best of them is the delicious icing on the best cake you ever had.

I will be relishing this album for a long time to come.

I really like her music and playing , but this album is not that good . Cohesion is what is missing , too bad , not that there are no good tunes , there are , but kind of weak and disorginized for my taste ...

I have purchased all of Ms.Eliane's recordings, not because of her seductive photo covers, but because she is simply an incredible musician. This Brazilian beauty also has a silky, seductive,alto that is accentuated in her native Portugese. If she weren't a married woman, I would almost venture to say that I've fallen in love with her.