The Three Americas

The Three Americas

ASIN: B000005H6X

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Eliane Elias lived in Sao Paulo, Brazil, until she was 20 and has lived in New York City ever since. The 37-year-old jazz pianist has often combined Brazilian bossa nova and North American swing with appealing results, but now she has added Cuban songo, Argentine tango, and Puerto Rican guaracha for a broader look at Western Hemisphere music on an album aptly titled "The Three Americas." The disc fails to capture Latin rhythms at their most fervid, or jazz improvisation at its most ambitious, but it does combine elements of both into a bouncy, melodic music that should be readily accessible to almost any listener.

Elias has a light but agile touch at the keyboard, and, if this undermines the percussive aspects of the instrument, it also assists the fluidity of her harmonic imagination. She accompanies her piano lines with scat vocals on several numbers, but when she attempts a lead vocal on Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Brigas Nunca Mais," the results are underwhelming. She's much better off on original instrumentals such as "The Time Is Now" and "Caipora," where the Cuban and Brazilian rhythms percolated by percussionists Manolo Badrena and Café create a musical surf that she and flutist Dave Valentin can ride. Best of all is her stirring tribute to Astor Piazzolla on the tango "Chorango," which features Gil Goldstein on accordion. --Geoffrey Himes

Tracks:

An Up Dawn
The Time Is Now
Caipora
Chorango
Chega De Saudade
Crystal And Lace
Brigas Nunca Mais
Inroduction To Guarani
O Guarani
Jungle Journey
Missing You
Jumping Fox

Amazon.com

Eliane Elias lived in Sao Paulo, Brazil, until she was 20 and has lived in New York City ever since. The 37-year-old jazz pianist has often combined Brazilian bossa nova and North American swing with appealing results, but now she has added Cuban songo, Argentine tango, and Puerto Rican guaracha for a broader look at Western Hemisphere music on an album aptly titled "The Three Americas." The disc fails to capture Latin rhythms at their most fervid, or jazz improvisation at its most ambitious, but it does combine elements of both into a bouncy, melodic music that should be readily accessible to almost any listener.

Customer Reviews:

Caotic to say the least.......2004-05-06

I really like her music and playing , but this album is not that good . Cohesion is what is missing , too bad , not that there are no good tunes , there are , but kind of weak and disorginized for my taste ...

Eliane's best CD so far, by far.......2003-08-31

This CD hooked me the minute I heard the first note of the first track. Eliane Elias is a tremendous talent, and on this one surrounds herself with great material and great musicians. "Up and Dawn" is fabulous, as are both "The Time Is Now", and "Chorango". The highlight of the CD, for me, seems to be the "lowlight" for a few underinformed 'editorial reviewers' I have read. Elias' renditions of Jobim's "Chega de Saudade" and "Brigas Nunca Mais" feature the virtuoso guitar playing of Oscar Castro-Neves alone with Eliane's bossa-style vocals and 'Jobim-esque' piano solos. Some have refered to these tracks as "lightweight". You listen to the brilliance of Castro-Neves' stunning samba/bossa rhythms along with Elias' heartfelt vocal phrasings and tell me who is crazy - me or the reviewers. My one nitpick is that I feel the CD goes one song over where it should end. Still, a 5-star recording.

Her Best Work.......2003-03-19

I have 6 of her CDs and this is one that I listen to most. The balance between superb straight ahead playing, imaginative originals and of course Elaine's captivting yet unusual vocals makes this a great CD. Buy this CD - you will wear it out.

The Three Americas.......2002-07-04

As a listening experience Elaine Elias is somewhere and something else. This is not just an album of bossas or sambas - this is the stuff you listen to when you need to get into the heart and soul of music. From a rhythmic perspective these pieces are flat out astounding and I've listened to the Milton Nascimentos the Tania Marias and the Chick Coreas. Let me tell you, they can all learn something from Elaine Elias - she outdoes them all.
The fact that she can also swing with the best of them is the delicious icing on the best cake you ever had.

I will be relishing this album for a long time to come.

On the whole, a remarkable album.......1999-12-10

Eliane gives us a sample of her perceptions of the music of both Latin America and North America, forming a cohesive and interesting whole. I'm a bit biased because I'm in love with her voice, but the instrumentals really aren't ALL consistent--thus the 4 stars. The best tracks are by far the 2 vocal Jobim renditions of "Brigas, Nunca Mais" and perhaps my favorite Jobim tune of all "Chega de Saudade". These 2 songs alone make the album worth buying; they are at once seductive, subtle, and sublime. They capture the essence of bossa nova without sounding retrograde. The first track is also a wonderful treat, signifying to me the joy of awakening to a new day, a new era, a new love.

Average customer rating:

Excellent Revueltas
Wonderful music of the Mexican "Stravinsky"

Sensemaya

Manufacturer: Dorian Recordings
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Septets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Choruses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Musical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000001QBM
Release Date: 1997-01-14

Tracks:

Troka 'Dance Pantomime For Children'
Cuahnahuac (For String Orchestra)
Five Songs (for Voice and Instrumental Ensemble): El Tecolote 'The Owl'
Five Songs (for Voice and Instrumental Ensemble): Ranas 'Frogs'
Five Songs (for Voice and Instrumental Ensemble): Duo para pato y canario 'Duet For Duck'
Five Songs (for Voice and Instrumental Ensemble): No se por que piensas tu 'Why Do You Believe?'
Five Songs (for Voice and Instrumental Ensemble): Caminando 'Walking'
Escenas Infantiles 'Scenes From Childood' (For Chamber Ensemble)
Cuatro Pequenos Trozos 'Four Little Pieces' (for Two Violins and Cello): Lento
Cuatro Pequenos Trozos 'Four Little Pieces' (for Two Violins and Cello): Deciso
Cuatro Pequenos Trozos 'Four Little Pieces' (for Two Violins and Cello): Larghetto
Cuatro Pequenos Trozos 'Four Little Pieces' (for Two Violins and Cello): Allegro non troppo
El Filador 'The Knifesharpener' (For Wind Septet)
Parian 'Market' (For Soprano, Mixed Chorus And Chamber Orchestra)
Sensemaya, Canto para matar a una culebra 'Sensemaya, Chant For The Killing Of A Snake (For Chamber Ensemble)

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Revueltas.......2000-11-09

Revueltas is rightfully being recorded more and more frequently these days, and this recording is an excellent account of his work. Up until now, most of Revueltas' recordings have featured his large orchestral works. This CD is different because it displays some of his smaller scale, lesser known pieces. With three exceptions, the pieces here are under four minutes. His music is still very rhythmic, creative, and compelling. The performers are all excellent, as is the recording quality.

The best known Revueltas work is Sensemayá, which is heard here in a different version from the well known full orchestra setting. Since I had heard the longer version first, this version initially sounded somewhat clipped to me - as though it were missing something. I have since changed my mind and find this to be a similarly thrilling account - more so than some full orchestra readings. The playing and conducting are intense and excellent. Sensemayá is a thrilling piece to listen to and is even more thrilling to see performed live. Other excellent Sensemayá accounts have been given by Eduardo Mata, Michael Tilson Thomas, and Leonard Bernstein. There is a relatively lame account by Esa-Pekka Salonen that should be avoided.

The notes are detailed and well written, including information on the numerous talented musicians who collaborated for this recording. If you already have one Revueltas CD, this will make a great second.

Wonderful music of the Mexican "Stravinsky".......1999-07-30

Silvestre Revueltas (1899-1940) is in many ways the Mexican Stravinsky. He uses harsh rhythms and tonalities, folk sounding melodies, and modern structures. He builds all of these things and many more into music that is totally unique. "Sensemaya' is the first recording of many of the works included, or as in the case of the title piece, and earlier version of a more well know composition. All of the tracks are wonderful and varied, with music going from small chamber ensembles to larger groups, and both vocals and instrumentals. If you only listen to one track, make it the last one, "Sensemaya". It is a purely musical setting of the poem by Nicolas Guillen describing the cermony for the killing of a serpent. There are two basic elements in the piece, the snake and the struggling of the priests to overcome it. The struggling music interupts more and more until it literally overpowers the snake motif, just as the ritual would progress in real life. In this piece, you can hear all of the wonderful qualities of Revueltas' music, especially his favorite - the struggle between life and death. In all, this is an excellent recording of some very unjustly overlooked music of an equally overlooked genius.

I can also recommend two other recordings of Revueltas' music - "La Coronela,Itnerarios, and Colorines" conducted by Gisele Ben-Dor with the Santa Barbara Symphony (Koch 3-7421-2HI) and "Night of the Mayas" (Catalyst 09026-62672-2) which includes the closest thing Revueltas wrote to a symphony - "La Noches de los Maya", a 4 movement suite of a film score that covers every possible human emotion and almost every possible modern musical idea - including free percusion cadenzas! One desccription I have heard of this piece is Stravinsky after a bottle of Tequila! I liked the piece so much that my high school band is performing "Mayas" on the field this fall as our contest show. My students absolutly love the music! (remember, we're talking about HIGH SCHOOL students that only listen to pop on the radio!)

Tracks:

Song Of The Tree Of Oblivion
Five Argentinian Folk Songs, Op.10: Chacarera
Five Argentinian Folk Songs, Op.10: Triste
Five Argentinian Folk Songs, Op.10: Zamba
Five Argentinian Folk Songs, Op.10: Arrorro
Five Argentinian Folk Songs, Op.10: Gato
Lundu Of The Marquise of Santos
Little Song
Evocation
Farewell Ema
The Guardian Angel
Classic Samba
Little Serenade
Who Am I?
I Hate Music!: My Name Is Barbara
I Hate Music!: Jupiter Has Seven Moons
I Hate Music!: I Hate Music!
I Hate Music!: A Big Indian And A Little Indian
I Hate Music!: I'm A Person Too
Four Songs, Op.13: A Nun Takes The Veil
Four Songs, Op.13: The Secrets Of The Old
Four Songs, Op.13: Sure On This Shining Night
Four Songs, Op.13: Nocturne
In The Alley
In The Mornin'
The Side Show
I Travelled Among Unknown Men
Memories
The Things Our Fathers Loved
The Circus Band
Three Metis Folk Songs: Song Of The Little Shoemaker
Three Metis Folk Songs: Farewell Of The Bride
Three Metis Folk Songs: Song Of The Frog Plain
Dissidence: The Yellow Lions
Dissidence: Psalm
Dissidence: The Cry Of Joy

Jazz Music:

Jazz Music

Jazz Music