Event Details
Date: Saturday, June 30, 2012
Start Time: 6:00 PM
Event Type: Special Events, Concerts
Last Updated: June 14, 2012
Views: 8
Montreal International Jazz Festival presentsEliane EliasJazzBeat Hyatt Regency MontrealAfter charming us in 2009 with Bossa Nova Stories, a tribute to the 50th anniversary of the genre, the undeniably talented jazz pianist and singer, Eliane Elias, returns, this time bringing us Light My Fire, a romantic album of covers by The Doors, of course, but also Gilberto Gil, Stevie Wonder and even Take Five by Brubeck.As sensual as ever, the Brazilian native and longtime New York resident is enjoying the best response any of her albums has ever received. One listen and youll understand why. We simply cannot wait to hear it live!Since the mid-1980s, pianist/vocalist Eliane Elias (pronounced eh-lee-AH-neh eh-LEE-ahs) has grafted various elements of jazz, pop, soul and other styles to her deep Brazilian roots to create a hybrid groove that exists comfortably on any hemisphere. Borrowing from an array of sources and singing in a variety of languages, Elias consistently forges a sound that appeals to listeners of every geographic locale and cultural persuasion. Her new album, Light My Fire explores the various corners of the human heart from romance and passion to the shared joy of being alive and embracing everyone into the dance of life. Along with four compositions written or co-written by Elias herself, the album also includes covers of familiar works by songwriters as diverse as Jim Morrison and the Doors, pop icon Stevie Wonder and jazz saxophonist Paul Desmond. Elias weaves it all together into a cohesive whole by injecting each of the twelve songs with distinctly Brazilian grooves that alternate effortlessly between the fiery and passionate to the cool and sophisticated. Some of the tunes are cool and laid back, but others are quite rhythmic and joyful, says Elias. And they have some different grooves. I tend to gravitate toward romance beautiful melodies, beautiful harmonies and rhythms with a great feel. But more than anything else, Im singing about love on this record in its different aspects and dimensions. Backing Elias on Light My Fire is a crew of twelve high-caliber players, including special guests guitarist/vocalist Gilberto Gil and trumpeter Randy Brecker. The rhythm section which has accompanied Elias on several of her most recent recordings includes guitarist Oscar Castro-Neves, bassist Marc Johnson and drummer Paulo Braga. Also on hand to sing with Elias and Gil on Toda Menina Baiana is Elias daughter, singer-songwriter Amanda Brecker. New to Elias team is percussionist Marivaldo dos Santos, drummer Rafael Barata, guitarists Romero Lubambo and Ross Traut, and flutist Lawrence Feldman.