Eliane Elias - Kissed By Nature (CD)

All Music Guide

For a long time, Eliane Elias seemed like a fixture at Blue Note. The Brazilian singer/pianist started recording for that wellknown jazz label in the late '80s, and she was still on Blue Note when the 21st century arrived. But in 2002, Elias did the unexpected and moved to RCA; Kissed by Nature is her first RCA release. For the most part, this is a vocal album, although Elias does get in some likable solos and this time, she emphasizes relaxed, laidback Brazilian popjazz. Kissed by Nature is essentially Brazilian easy listening, although it isn't bloodless elevator Muzak; even at her most commercial, Elias probably has too much substance and integrity for the average smooth jazz/NAC station. One thing she doesn't have is a great voice. While Elias is an excellent pianist, her voice is undeniably thin as a vocalist, she doesn't have a fantastic range by any means. But despite Elias' obvious limitations as a singer, her vocals (some in English, some in Portuguese, and some wordless) ar...e pleasant enough on caressing popjazz originals like "A Volta," "Balancê," and the title track. No one will accuse Elias' singing of being in a class with the fivestar performances of Gal Costa or Ithamara Koorax, but she does bring warmth and sincerity to her singing and those things count for something. Most of the material on Kissed by Nature was written or cowritten by Elias; the exception is a medley of songs by Brazilian superstar Djavan, and that medley is arguably the album's standout track (which isn't to say that Elias' own writing isn't respectable). Kissed by Nature won't go down in history as one of Elias' essential releases, but it's a decent effort that's worth hearing if you need a dose of Brazilian mood music. - Alex Henderson, All Music Guide Read more Less