Eliane Elias facts for kids

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

Her Musical Journey

Eliane Elias was born in São Paulo, Brazil, on March 19, 1960. She started playing the piano when she was just seven years old. By the time she was twelve, she was already learning complex jazz solos by listening to them and writing them down.

Early Career in Brazil

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

Moving to New York

In 1981, Eliane moved to New York City. There, she studied at The Juilliard School of Music, a very famous music school. A year later, she joined a jazz group called Steps Ahead.

Recording Albums and Winning Awards

Eliane Elias has released many albums throughout her career.

• In 1993, she signed with EMI Classics to record classical music.
• In 2001, she appeared in a documentary film called Calle 54, performing her song "Samba Triste."
• She has released two albums dedicated to the music of Antônio Carlos Jobim: Eliane Elias Plays Jobim (1990) and Eliane Elias Sings Jobim (1998).
• In 2004, her album Dreamer was very popular in Japan, winning the Gold Disc Award. It also reached high spots on music charts in France and the U.S.
• Her 2007 album, Something for You, also won Best Vocal Album of the Year in Japan and reached No. 1 on the U.S. jazz charts.
• In 2008, she recorded Bossa Nova Stories to celebrate 50 years of bossa nova music.

Recent Successes

Eliane continued to release successful albums:

• In 2011, her song "What About the Heart (Bate Bate)" was nominated for a Latin Grammy Award.
• Her 2013 album, I Thought About You, was a big hit online, reaching No. 1 on Amazon.com in the U.S. and France.
• Her albums Made in Brazil (2015) and Dance of Time (2017) both debuted at No. 1 on Billboard jazz and world music charts. They also won Grammy Awards for Best Latin Jazz Album of the Year.
• Her 2019 album Love Stories was a top seller in Latin Jazz and Brazilian Jazz.
• In 2021, her album Mirror, Mirror, recorded with jazz legends Chick Corea and Chucho Valdés, won the Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album.

About Her Life

Eliane Elias has a diverse background, with family roots from Italy, Lebanon, and Spain.

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, who plays bass in her band and helps produce her music.

Awards and Recognitions

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

• 1995: Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Solo Performance.
• 1997: Best Jazz Album from DownBeat magazine for The Three Americas.
• 2002: Grammy nomination for Best Latin Jazz Album.
• 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 Japan Gold Disc Awards in Japan.
• 2019: Her album "Love Stories" received a "Masterpiece" award (5 stars) from DownBeat magazine.
• 2021: Her album "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.

Her Music Albums (Discography)

As the Main Artist

• Amanda with Randy Brecker (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)

As a Guest Musician

• Brecker Brothers, Out of the Loop (1994)
• Urszula Dudziak, Sorrow Is Not Forever...But Love Is (1983)
• Peter Erskine, Motion Poet (1988)
• Michael Franks, Abandoned Garden (1995)
• Denyce Graves, The Lost Days (2002)
• Joe Henderson, Double Rainbow: The Music of Antonio Carlos Jobim (1995)
• Toninho Horta, Moonstone (1989)
• Marc Johnson, Shades of Jade (2005)
• Earl Klugh, Midnight in San Juan (1991)
• Ivo Perelman, Ivo (1989)
• Andy Summers, World Gone Strange (1991)
• Toots Thielemans, The Brasil Project (1992)
• Toots Thielemans, The Brasil Project Vol. 2 (1993)
• Ornella Vanoni, Ornella &... (1986)

See also

In Spanish: Eliane Elias para niños

• List of jazz arrangers