CD review: Eliane Elias – Time and Again – 2024: Videos, CD cover

Eliane Elias is one of the most glorious, distinguished jazz vocalists of our lifetimes. She’s complied 32 albums with eleven Grammy and Latin Grammy nominations with two Grammys and two Latin Grammy Award wins to date. Time and Again has been nominated for another Grammy in the Best Latin Jazz Album category to be announced early next year.

It is really no wonder that Eliane Elias has come to literally personify those ineffable Brasilian expressions of both saudade and alegria. Her sensuous music is imbued with both – some would only say – opposite emotions.

I’ve been a listener and fan of this wonderful Brazilian artist sing she arrived in New York in the early 1980s. Initially, I was drawn in when Eliane was a member of the cutting edge band Steps Ahead which was formed by and included Michael and Randy Brecker as well as Mike Mainieri (vibes), Mike Stern (guitar), Steve Gadd (drums) and a large rotating cast of music luminaries. (I guess this format interested me long before Snarky Puppy!).

While the latter expression translates easily as “joy,” the former [expression], loaded with meaning, has no equivalent expression in any language [although the word “longing” is often used]. However, the feeling is so elusive as to come alive with meaning in minor modes in Brasilian music evocative of romantic love.

I suppose the word saudade is only translatable in music loaded with emotion and meaning – and that is what sets Ms Elias apart as musicians – such as  Tom Jobim, João Gilberto, or – as vocalists go – like Rosa Passos and other vocalists who embody the quintessential nature of Brasilliance. Ms Elias is that kind of musician – an excellent composer who – because of her Brasilian origins – is eminently well-versed in the idiom of Brasil and also as a composer and pianist – because she is fluent in the idiom of jazz – occupies a special place in that tribe.

On Time and Again, there’s a mix of English and Portuguese vocals, as expected and each song is equally inviting. Eliane, simply stated, has an amazing, distinctive voice and style that just is so soothingly soft and silky. The album is very upbeat and I find it a great de-stresser, equally warm a home, on a long drive or even for workout time.

Falo do Amor translates as “I Talk About Love” and it’s another uptempo tune with a high energy level. The acoustic instrumentation is crystal clear and the Eliane’s piano solos and accompaniment is terrific. She absolutely swings on this one.

It’s Time starts with some light scatting, and settles in at midtempo. After the A-section, Eliane again scats along with her piano solo in a very subtle way. The song seems to be about the need to change habits and shift gears, but I could listen all day.

How Many Times is a slower paced song reflecting on past places and people. It has a dreamlike floating feel. You definitely can feel the thoughtfulness evoked from the lyrics. Also, it’s always a joy to hear the vibe work of Mainieri, bouncing around with the piano and guitar work. It’s so clear that the players here have a history that meshes perfectly. I really love this song.

Sempre you may know means ‘always’. The song features Djavan for a duet with Eliane. Candidly, I wasn’t familiar with him but not totally surprised to find out that he’s considered one of the greatest singers in Brazilian history (Wikipedia)!. Since the song is in Portuguese, I don’t know the lyrics but can intimate that it’s a about and always enduring love. It’s a great listen.

AVolta means “Around” – the song features a mix of light scatting, great backing vocals and of course Eliane’s gorgeous vocals. Eliane has a brilliant piano solo as the bridge with the backing vocals floating on the top.

Making Honey starts with a great chorus of vocals and brushes on the drums. The lyrics talk about watching people to see if all are dreaming of love. It’s a bit of a voyeuristic journey, watching and wanting romance. The bridge is another brilliant, upbeat piano solo. “Imagine that it’s more than just a fling” is the overall theme to Making Honey where “everybody is dreaming of love like me.”

Too Late is a retrospective “looking back in time” ballad, thinking about how to make things better, the way things used to be. Too Late “to say I’m sorry” or to think about other things that could have changed the relationship. The backing chorus is ethereal and the music just wraps the listener in a tight, warm hug. The whole album is such a class compilation.

This Grammy-nominated album – Time and Again – does not simply continue from where her other studio albums left off, but it leaps into an altogether new, celestial place. As ever, the idiom is Brasilian, which is to say that it’s arc – musically speaking – sweeps across the cultural topography of that country. On the surface, it appears to be replete with the sound of Bossa Nova, but it is so much more, with an ocean of Brasilian sound swirling in its melodies, harmonies rhythms, and most of all, in its emotional sensibilities.

This is a glorious album with each superb song written by Ms Elias and Marc Johnson. Ms Elias is the star – playing piano and singing. A stellar cast accompanies her, and this music has been deeply interiorised by each and every musician – vocalist Mark Kibble, guitarist Bill Frisell, vibraphonist Mike Mainieri included – who return the favour by giving of themselves sublime, idiomatic performances. The apogee of the recording may quite easily be Sempre, which features a star turn by the incomparable Djavan.

It’s yet another unforgettable album – worthy of celebration – featuring the sublime artistry of Ms Elias.

Traks – 1. At First Sight; 2. Falo do Amor; 3. It’s Time; 4. How Many Times; 5. Sempre; 6. A Volta; 7. Making Honey; 8. Too Late.

Musicians – Eliane Elias: piano, keyboards and vocals; Marc Johnson: contrabass [1, 3, 4, 7]; Marcelo Mariano: electric bass [2, 4, 5]; Cuca Teixeira: drums [2, 4, 5]; Edu Ribeiro: drums [1, 7]; Peter Erskine: drums [3];  Davi Viera: percussion [4]; Marivaldo Dos Santos: percussion [1]; Mike Mainieri: vibraphone [4]; Bill Frisell: guitar [4, 8]; Conrado Goys: guitar [2, 4, 5]; Daniel Santiago: guitar [1, 4, 6]; Marcus Reixeira: guitar [1, 3, 6]; Mark Kibble: backing vocals [1 – 3, 6 – 8]; Djavan: vocals [5].