Eliane Elias Brazilian-Born Jazz Pianist/Vocalist/Composer Makes Her RCA/Bluebird Jazz Debut With The Remarkable 13-Track Collection "Kissed by Nature"

CD Features Ten New Original Compositions, a Djavan Medley
And Two Bonus Track Remixes Produced by
Brazilian DJ/Remix Team BossaCucaNova

In Stores September 24

Brazilian-born, New York-based pianist-vocalist-composer Eliane Elias makes her Bluebird Jazz debut with the sumptuous Kissed by Nature, a 13-track collection comprised of ten original vocal and instrumental compositions, a medley of two tunes by the great Brazilian songwriter Djavan and two bonus track remixes produced by the popular Brazilian DJ team BossaCucaNova. The CD will be released on September 24.

While continuing to exercise her prowess as a top-notch jazz artist, Elias expands her creative vision on Kissed by Nature by adding new textures, colors and shapes to her music. She delivers coolly romantic and reflective ballads and swinging upbeat cookers that are infused with Brazilian music influences and buoyed by the leader's command of jazz improvisation. “I wanted to make a record that could be listened to when you just want to relax," says Elias. “Instead of creating an album of pianistic virtuosity, I set out to make music that is beautiful as well as artistically engaging."

Kissed by Nature features Elias' sweetly expressive piano playing and her soft, sensuous vocals that complement her instrumental phrasing. She notes that many of the tracks on the album were inspired by nature. “I wrote most of these songs when I was at my home in the Hamptons. I'm in the woods, close to the beach. The tunes reflect that." For the bulk of the album, Elias works in a trio format with bassist Marc Johnson (who co-produced the album with her) and alternating drummers/percussionists Joey Baron and Paolo Braga. Also appearing on a couple of tracks are Randy Brecker on trumpet and flugelhorn Rick Margitza on tenor saxophone. Elias stretches vocally on this album-in English and Portuguese as well as with wordless vocals-more so than earlier outings. She says, “I wasn't planning to sing as much as I do, but that's the direction the album took while I was writing."

Many of Elias' new songs came ready-made. “I love those moments when the inspiration is there and the tune just comes," she says. “That's how 'Kissed by Nature' arrived. It was a gift. It was like that with 'A Volta' too. It's a love song, like most of these tunes." In addition to several reflective gems on the CD-including two songs from a Danish project she worked on a couple of years ago: the sobering “October" with Brecker on muted trumpet and the mournful “September" with Brecker on flugelhorn-there are groove-oriented tunes such as the soulful “Luar" with its bossa nova/choro feel and the joyous medley of Djavan's “Fato Consumado" and “Dobrado" (which marks the first time Elias has recorded his material).

Other highlights include the rhythmic “Balanc