Search - Eliane Elias :: Solos And Duets

Wonderful instrumental piano

Jinkyu | 07/07/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Deciding to record some unaccompanied music, the lovely Brazilian pianist Eliane Elias put out this superb instrumental CD. Solos and Duets is entirely jazz piano, made up of solo pieces performed by Eliane and her duets with jazz legend Herbie Hancock. The sound is really more like jazz/classical, for it does have a classical texture altho with the spontaneity and other elements of jazz. Indeed, Eliane plays the chords, but the better part for me is all the free-flowing piano notes, very pretty. The music ranges between straightforward interpretations of song structures and complete improvisation. The songs on which Herbie and Eliane team up are the strongest. They are "Just Enough," penned by Eliane, and two lengthy numbers: Herbie's composition "The Way You Look Tonight" and the four-part improvisation "Messages," which they jointly wrote. Eliane's solo-performed tunes were written by a variety of other artists, including the creator of the Baiao genre, Luiz Gonzaga. His hit "Asa Branca," also known for MPB (musica popular brasileira) artist Caetano Veloso's 1971 version, is here given soft expression by Eliane's piano. She maintains some of the song's Brazilian rhythms and feel, but also does classical style improvisation. Jazziest and intense at times is "The Way You Look Tonight," in which Herbie and Eliane engage in some complex deliveries, with changes in tempo and direction and interesting asides, demonstrating why jazz is considered a genre without limitations. My favorite moment is "Just Enough," an exquisite work of compelling beauty. Solos and Duets is a tour de force, easy listening and beautiful music throughout."