Matti P
Love Stories shows the much awarded Brazilian artist ELIANE ELIAS (b. 1960) in a mature age. She started her recording career in the mid-80's, at first being primarily a pianist. Quite early on Elias has also proved to be a capable band leader, composer, arranger and producer. As a coolly sensual pianist-vocalist she could be compared to Diana Krall. Many albums in her long career have a more or less distinctive Brazilian identity in the use of Portuguese and bossa nova style. This romantic and relatively American-style album is sung almost entirely in English -- 'Little Boat' is bilingual -- but it has bossa vibes to it.
Eliane Elias co-produced the album with her bass-playing husband Marc Johnson and Steve Rodby who's best known as Pat Metheny's bassist (he's not playing here). Guitars and drums are shared by several musicians. Orchestral arrangements are by Rob Mathes. Eliane's voice is still in a very good shape. Like Krall, she's just effortlessly being herself in an understatement approach that can be much more sensual than a more operatic virtuosity.
'A Man and a Woman' originates from the French 1966 film "Un homme et une femme". 'Baby Come to Me', originally recorded by Patti Austin in 1981, is very enjoyable as a smooth jazz version featuring male backing vocals. Equally cute is Antonio Carlos Jobim's 'Bonita' featuring sparse English vocals.
'Angel Eyes' and 'Come Fly With Me' are maybe best remembered as Frank Sinatra numbers. These versions are jazzier in comparison, especially noteworthy is the luxorious piano solo on the latter. Elias and her husband wrote together three songs for this album. 'The Simplest Things' and 'The View' are romantic jazz ballads easy to enjoy. 'Silence' is even in a slower tempo and puts the lush strings shamelessly in the centre.
To say something negative of this finely produced, amicable album, it surely could try to steer a bit further from the Easy Listening music and keep the piano jazz vitality more vibrant (as it does on some pieces). But if you and your sweetheart are looking for openly romantic music with soft and silky arrangements for your tender moments, this is a perfect choice.