Eliane Elias, pronounced ehh-LEE-ahs, was born March 19, 1960 in Sao Paulo Brazil. He is a Brazilian jazz pianist and arranger. Elias began playing the piano when she was seven years old. She was a student at the Free Center of Music Apprenticeship, Sao Paulo. She joined Brazilian singer/guitarist/songwriter Toquinho and poet/entertainer Vinicius de Moraes when she was 17 years old, with whom she made concert tours for three years, mainly through South America. She met Eddie Gomez, a jazz bassist, while on a European tour in 1981. This encouraged her to visit New York. She was invited to Steps Ahead in 1983 and recorded one album. She later married Randy Brecker, a trumpet player. Their daughter Amanda was the inspiration for an album they recorded. She was named “Best New Talent” in 1988 by JAZZIZ magazine’s poll of jazz critics. Her recordings include several noteworthy albums. One of her most notable albums features duets with Herbie Hancock. Their 1995 album “Solos and Duets”, was nominated in the category “Jazz instrumental video”. American musician Bob Brookmeyer, who was backed by the Danish Jazz Orchestra, dedicated a whole album to his arrangements for Eliane’s compositions in 1997. The album was published under the title “Impulsive!” The album was nominated for a Grammy in 2001 as the “Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album”. Elias was featured in Calle 54, a 2000 Latin jazz documentary. Marian McPartland first featured Elias on her Piano Jazz radio show in 2002. She also made another appearance in 2008. Marc Johnson is her husband and she has produced many albums together, including Shades of Jade by ECM Records. It features Eliane’s writing and pianism. This recording was awarded the Best Foreign Release Award in Denmark 2006, and was selected by Time Magazine to be one of the best Fall releases 2005.
