Eliane Elias: Time And Again

Internationally-renowned Brazilian jazz pianist and vocalist Eliane Elias presents her third recording on the Candid label—and the 32nd release of her long and distinguished career—on the innovative and creative Time and Again, a collection of eight new original sambas, which feature her piano, keyboards and singing in both English and Portuguese. As Mark Wexler, head of Candid Records states, "With each recording, Elaine proves she has no boundaries and showcases her mastery of song, musicianship and vocalese. She is an artist for all seasons and we're thrilled to present her Time and Again."

In bringing the music to life, Elias records in various formats with a host of musicians, 15 in all, spread throughout the album. These include drummer Peter Erskine and bassist Marc Johnson along with various special guests such as guitarist Bill Frisell, percussionists Marivaldo dos Santos and Davi Vieira, plus vibraphonist Mike Mainieri, among others.

We are all familiar with the phrase "love at first sight" and that is exactly what Elias expresses in the opening "At First Sight," with a beautiful melodic tune telling the story of that special feeling of falling in love. In a special dedication to the singer's granddaughter "Falo do Amor," (I Talk About Love), Elias sings the lyric in Portuguese and plays the piano with the vibrancy we are used to hearing from her. Johnson and Erskine do the honors on the exquisite "It's Time," a buoyant light samba featuring Mark Kibble, who lends a little help on background vocals. This is one of the highlights of the set.

Special guests Mainieri and Frisell showcase their talents on the smooth-styled ballad "How Many Times," while Brazilian vocalist Djavan makes an appearance in a delightful duet with Elias on the brief but standout piece "Sempre," as both vocalists sing in Portuguese while the leader takes to the keyboards in one of the finest tunes of the album. The Brazilian grooves continue on the delightful "A Volta" (The Return) and "Making Honey," which feature Edu Ribeiro on the drums and Kibble once again on background vocals. Elias adds some nice solo moments on the piano in a sprite and perky tune dripping with sweetness.

The slow and somber finale track, "Too Late," is a love ballad reflecting the emotions and feelings of regret, knowing a relationship is over. To that point, the singer delivers a humble vocal performance filled with much beauty and a touch of sadness. Nevertheless, the down-tempo nature of the last track does in no way detract form the joyful and all-around appealing sound of the album. Whether one is a fan of the Brazilian genre or not, Elias' Time and Again is without question one of the most pleasurable and enticing vocal jazz albums one will encounter without regret.