Artist: Connie Evingson
     Album: Gypsy In My Soul
     Label: Minnehaha Music
     Year: 2004
     Format, bitrate: MP3@128 kbit/s
     Time: 1:01:00
     Size: 57 MB
     AMG rating:


     A versatile singer with a warm voice and a quietly swinging style, Connie Evingson explores the usually instrumental Gypsy jazz style during this highly enjoyable project. On various selections she is joined by either Pearl Django, the Clearwater Hot Club, or the Parisota Hot Club, quartets that are sometimes augmented by accordion, vibes, drums, and/or percussion. She performs swing standards, Susannah McCorkle's lyrics to Django Reinhardt's "Nuages," and her own words to "Django's Premonition" (originally known as "Anouman"). The strong repertoire, the instrumental colors, and Evingson's voice are three reasons that Gypsy in My Soul is highly recommended.

     Artist: Dave Brubeck
     Album: Concord On a Summer Night
     Label: Concord Jazz
     Year: 1982
     Quality: MP3/320
     Size: 76.8 MB (sharebee)
     Time: 37:50


     In 1982 pianist Dave Brubeck welcomed clarinetist Bill Smith (who he had played with back in his octet days in the late '40s) as a permanent member of his Quartet along with drummer Randy Jones and Chris Brubeck on electric bass and occasional bass trombone. This album features the new Quartet at the Concord Jazz Festival playing what would become their typical mixture of songs: three Brubeck compositions ("Benjamin," "Koto Song" and "Softly, William, Softly"), a standard ("Black and Blue") and yet another remake of "Take Five." These are fine performances. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

     Artist: Eliane Elias
     Album: Kissed By Nature
     Year: 2002
     Label: RCA
     Format/Bitrate: MP3/192 kbit/s
     Size: 86 MB (RS)
     Time: 65:05

     For a long time, Eliane Elias seemed like a fixture at Blue Note. The Brazilian singer/pianist started recording for that well-known jazz label in the late '80s, and she was still on Blue Note when the 21st century arrived. But in 2002, Elias did the unexpected and moved to RCA; Kissed by Nature is her first RCA release. For the most part, this is a vocal album, although Elias does get in some likable solos -- and this time, she emphasizes relaxed, laid-back Brazilian pop-jazz. Kissed by Nature is essentially Brazilian easy listening, although it isn't bloodless elevator Muzak; even at her most commercial, Elias probably has too much substance and integrity for the average smooth jazz/NAC station. One thing she doesn't have is a great voice. While Elias is an excellent pianist, her voice is undeniably thin -- as a vocalist, she doesn't have a fantastic range by any means. But despite Elias' obvious limitations as a singer, her vocals (some in English, some in Portuguese, and some wordless) are pleasant enough on caressing pop-jazz originals like "A Volta," "Balancк," and the title track. No one will accuse Elias' singing of being in a class with the five-star performances of Gal Costa or Ithamara Koorax, but she does bring warmth and sincerity to her singing -- and those things count for something. Most of the material on Kissed by Nature was written or co-written by Elias; the exception is a medley of songs by Brazilian superstar Djavan, and that medley is arguably the album's standout track (which isn't to say that Elias' own writing isn't respectable). Kissed by Nature won't go down in history as one of Elias' essential releases, but it's a decent effort that's worth hearing if you need a dose of Brazilian mood music.

     Artist: Eliane Elias
     Album: Everything I Love
     Year: 2000
     Label: Blue Note
     Format/Bitrate: MP3/192 kbit/s
     Size: 83 MB (RS)
     Time: 62:27

     Eliane Elias is such a fine hard bop/post-bop pianist that it is a pity that she occasionally feels compelled to vocalize; her singing voice is small, quiet, and unimpressive. However, other than her brief vocals on "The Beat of My Heart," "I Fall in Love Too Easily," and "Blah Blah Blah," this is a strong trio set. Elias interacts with either the bass-drum team of Marc Johnson and Jack DeJohnette or Christian McBride and Carl Allen, with guitarist Rodney Jones just popping up briefly on one song. Elias' playing is often introspective, but always very expressive and she swings hard on the faster pieces. She is one of the underrated greats of the jazz piano.

     Artist: Eliane Elias
     Album: Dreamer
     Year: 2004
     Label: Bluebird/Arista
     Format/Bitrate: MP3/224-320
     Size: 96 MB (RS)
     Time: 53:50

     Eliane Elias' second record for Bluebird is, like the previous Kissed by Nature, a vocal date intended for crossover audiences. Elias connects with her Brazilian pop heritage by choosing to sing, early on, a pair of Astrud Gilberto pieces, "Call Me" and "So Nice (Summer Samba)," both of which fortuitously suit the short range of her voice. Still, she speaks far more with a half-minute of piano soloing than she does with several minutes of vocal interpretation, and sounds far more comfortable taking an extra verse of the latter in Portuguese. Unlike the Gilberto tracks, Elias succeeds on two Antonio Carlos Jobim compositions, "Photograph" and the title song, her voice ironically betraying her in the same seductive fashion that Jobim himself made a hallmark. Her solos, though beautiful and contemplative, are short and usually hug the shore. As an overall musician, Elias has sure instincts when playing or singing, and compensates for her lack of vocal strength by rarely lingering on her notes.

     Artist: Eliane Elias
     Album: Plays Jobim
     Year: 1989
     Label: Blue Note
     Format/Bitrate: MP3/160-192
     Size: 68 MB (RS)
     Time: 58:30

     This is not an album for those die-hard bossa fans. These popular Jobim tunes all were revisited by Elias with the goal of bridging the gap between Brazilian music and jazz; that goal was achieved. She affirms herself in this complex idiom, resulting in an album that can be enjoyed by any jazz connoisseur.

     Artist: Eliane Elias
     Album: Illusions
     Year: 1986
     Label: Denon
     Format/Bitrate: MP3/160-256
     Size: 74MB (RS)
     Time: 59:50

     Eliane Elias' debut as a leader (she had been a member of Steps Ahead) finds her abandoning the electric keyboards in favor of acoustic piano. On seven songs she is joined by bassist Eddie Gomez and either Al Foster or Steve Gadd on drums; the remaining two selections feature her accompanied by bassist Stanley Clarke and drummer Lenny White. With harmonica great Toots Thielemans making guest appearances on two numbers, Elias was at the time easily the least-known of the players on her own CD. However the pianist was already far along toward developing her own sound as she shows on four originals, two obscurities, Herbie Hancock's "Chan's Song," Blossom Dearie's "Sweet Georgia Fame" and the standard "Falling in Love with Love." A fine start to a significant solo career.

     Artist: Eliane Elias
     Album: Cross Currents
     Year: 1987
     Label: Denon
     Format/Bitrate: MP3/320
     Size: 55 MB + 51MB (RS)
     Time: 51:30

     Pianist Eliane Elias' second of two Denon CDs recorded before she hooked up with Blue Note is a lesser-known but worthy session. Elias is mostly featured in a trio with bassist Eddie Gomez and drummer Jack DeJohnette performing originals, a Charles Mingus composition ("East Coastin'"), "Beautiful Love," "When You Wish Upon a Star" and Bud Powell's "Hallucinations."

     Artist: Eliane Elias
     Album: So Far So Close
     Year: 1988, release - 1989
     Label: Blue Note
     Format/Bitrate: MP3/VBR 224-320
     Size: 68 MB (RS)
     Time: 41:45