Eliane Elias facts for kids

Eliane Elias (born on March 19, 1960) is a talented Brazilian musician. She is known for playing the piano, singing, writing songs, and arranging music in the jazz style.

About Eliane Elias

Early Life and Musical Start

Eliane Elias was born in São Paulo, Brazil. She started learning piano when she was just seven years old. By age twelve, she was already listening to jazz musicians and writing down their solos. This showed how quickly she learned and understood music.

When she was fifteen, Eliane began teaching piano. At seventeen, she started performing with famous Brazilian artists. She toured with singer-songwriter Toquinho and the poet Vinicius de Moraes. She was also invited to tour with Antônio Carlos Jobim, who helped create bossa nova music.

Moving to New York and Joining Steps Ahead

In 1981, Eliane moved to New York City. There, she studied at The Juilliard School, a very famous music school. A year later, in 1982, she joined a well-known jazz group called Steps Ahead. This was a big step in her career.

In 1993, Eliane signed with EMI Classics. This allowed her to record classical music pieces. These recordings were released on her album On the Classical Side.

Albums and Achievements

Eliane Elias has released many successful albums. In 1990, she released Eliane Elias Plays Jobim, which honored the music of Antônio Carlos Jobim. She released another album of Jobim's music, Eliane Elias Sings Jobim, in 1998.

In 2001, Eliane appeared in a movie called Calle 54. She performed her song "Samba Triste" in this documentary film. Her album Dreamer, released in 2004, was very popular in Japan. It also reached high spots on music charts in France and the U.S.

Her album Something for You, released in 2007, also won awards in Japan. It reached number one on the U.S. jazz charts. In 2008, she recorded Bossa Nova Stories to celebrate 50 years of bossa nova music.

In 2011, she released Light My Fire. This album included songs she wrote herself and covers of songs by other artists. Her song "What About the Heart (Bate Bate)" was nominated for a Latin Grammy award in 2011.

In 2012, she worked with bassist Marc Johnson on the album Swept Away. This album was chosen as a top pick by DownBeat and Jazztimes magazines. Her 2013 album, I Thought About You, also did very well on music charts.

Grammy Award Success

Eliane Elias has won several Grammy Awards. Her album Made in Brazil (2015) and Dance of Time (2017) both debuted at number one on Billboard jazz and world music charts. Both albums also won Grammy Awards for Best Latin Jazz Album.

Her 2019 album, Love Stories, reached number one on several Amazon.com music charts.

In 2021, she released Mirror, Mirror. She recorded this album with two other famous pianists, Chick Corea and Chucho Valdés. This album won the Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album in 2022. It also won a Latin Grammy Award in 2022.

Personal Life

Eliane Elias is from Brazil and has Italian and Spanish family roots. She was married to American trumpeter Randy Brecker. They have a daughter named Amanda Elias Brecker, who was born in 1984 and is also a singer and songwriter.

In 1999, Eliane married Marc Johnson. He plays bass in her band and helps produce her music.

Awards and Recognitions

Eliane Elias has received many awards and nominations for her music:

• 1995: Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Solo Performance.
• 1997: Best Jazz Album from DownBeat magazine.
• 2002: Grammy nomination for Best Latin Jazz Album.
• 2011: Latin Grammy nomination for Best Brazilian Song.
• 2016: Grammy Award winner for Best Latin Jazz Album for Made in Brazil.
• 2017: Latin Grammy Award winner for Best Latin Jazz/Jazz Album for Dance of Time.
• 2018: Winner of the Edison Lifetime Achievement Award in Holland.
• She has won five Gold Disc Awards in Japan.
• 2019: Love Stories received a "Masterpiece" award (5 stars) from DownBeat magazine.
• 2021: Mirror Mirror also received a "Masterpiece" award (5 stars) from DownBeat magazine.
• 2022: Grammy Award winner for Best Latin Jazz Album for Mirror Mirror.
• 2022: Latin Grammy Award winner for Best Latin Jazz/Jazz Album for Mirror Mirror.

Discography

As a Leader

• Amanda (1985)
• Illusions (1986)
• Cross Currents (1987)
• So Far So Close (1989)
• Eliane Elias Plays Jobim (1990)
• A Long Story (1991)
• Fantasia (1992)
• Paulistana (1993)
• On the Classical Side (1993)
• Solos and Duets with Herbie Hancock (1995)
• Impulsive! with Bob Brookmeyer & Danish Radio Jazz Orchestra (1997)
• The Three Americas (1997)
• Eliane Elias Sings Jobim (1998)
• Everything I Love (2000)
• Kissed by Nature (2002)
• Portrait of Bill Evans (2002)
• Brazilian Classics (2003)
• Dreamer (2004)
• Around the City (2006)
• Something for You: Eliane Elias Sings & Plays Bill Evans (2007)
• Bossa Nova Stories (2008)
• Eliane Elias Plays Live (2009)
• Light My Fire (2011)
• Swept Away with Marc Johnson (2012)
• I Thought About You (2013)
• Made in Brazil (2015)
• Dance of Time (2017)
• Music from Man of La Mancha (2018)
• Love Stories (2019)
• Mirror Mirror with Chick Corea and Chucho Valdés (2021)
• Quietude (2022)
• Time and Again (2024)

With Steps Ahead

• Steps Ahead (1983)
• Holding Together (2002)

See also

In Spanish: Eliane Elias para niños

• List of jazz arrangers