Amanda Brecker

This is a great collaboration of two master musicians for a remarkable Brazilian Jazz album; Eliane Elias and Randy Brecker (married at the time), with an album in dedication to their daughter Amanda. This album is listed as Randy Brecker and Eliane Elias; even though, it should've been Eliane Elias and Randy Brecker since Eliane's presence, performance and arrangements are more prominent than Randy's, but that was just a marketing strategy since Eliane was just being introduced to the North American audience. Anyway, that doesn't deminish the artistry here.

Backing Elias on Light My Fire is a crew of twelve high-caliber players, including special guests guitarist/vocalist Gilberto Gil and trumpeter Randy Brecker. The rhythm section - which has accompanied Elias on several of her most recent recordings - includes guitarist Oscar Castro-Neves, bassist Marc Johnson and drummer Paulo Braga. Also on hand to sing with Elias and Gil on "Toda Menina Baiana" is Elias' daughter, singer-songwriter Amanda Brecker. New to Elias' team is percussionist Marivaldo dos Santos, drummer Rafael Barata, guitarists Romero Lubambo and Ross Traut, and flutist Lawrence Feldman.

This best-of collection tellingly starts off with four consecutive, woefully banal tracks from Elias' 1991 album A Long Story. It's certainly her most commercial work; whether it's her best is highly debatable. The disc doesn't get out from under the fluffy wordless vocals and synth pads until track seven, "Fantasia (To Amanda)," a teasingly short duet with bassist Eddie Gomez.

Duke Pearson - Now Hear This (1968) {Blue Note Japan SHM-CD TYCJ-81064 rel 2014} (24-192 remaster)
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 278 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 103 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 327 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit 192 kHz remaster
© 1968, 2014 Universal Japan / Blue Note | BN 75th The Masterworks | TYCJ-81064
Jazz / Hard Bop / Progressive Jazz / Piano

Features the high-fidelity SHM-CD format (compatible with standard CD player) and the latest 24bit 192kHz remastering. Duke Pearson returned to a big band setting for Now Hear This!, once again proving his agility and inventiveness as an arranger and leader. Working with a larger band than before – the total number of musicians weighs in at 17 – Pearson nevertheless keeps things clean and uncluttered. His compositions, as well as the songs he covers, cover a broad range of emotions, styles, and tonal colors, with lush ballads taking the center stage. Even if much of this music is beautiful, Pearson's arrangements take chances and are unconventional, which means it rewards close listening as well.

Featuring tracks culled from eight of her albums, beginning fittingly enough with 1989's Eliane Elias Plays Jobim, Blue Note has compiled a strong collection of pianist Eliane Elias' Brazilian jazz cuts on Brazilian Classics. Elias' classically influenced touch is evident here on such standards as Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Chega de Saudade" and "One Note Samba," as well as her medley of Milton Nascimento works off her 1992 Fantasia release. While it would have been nice for Blue Note to include some rarities or alternate takes, as it stands Brazilian Classics works as a fitting representation of Elias' take on her home country's unique sound.