Born on the 19th March 1960 in São Paulo, Brazil, Elias started learning to play the piano at the age of seven, and was transcribing solo portions of her parents’ jazz records by the age of twelve.
After studying for six years (and teaching by the age of fifteen) at Brazil’s prestigious Free Centre of Music Apprenticeship, she continued her classical education with Amilton Godoy and Amaral Vieria. She was also the protégé of Vinicius de Moraes, lyricist and songwriting partner of Antonio Carlos Jobim, a huge influence on Elias' work, and master of the Brazilian bossa nova movement. By the time she was seventeen years old she was touring with the best bossa nova composers and interpreters, composing her own pieces and performing at jazz clubs regularly.
Elias then moved to New York and studied privately with Olegna Fuschi at the Julliard School of Music, eventually joining jazz supergroup Steps Ahead (whose members included Eddie Gomez, Michael Brecker, Peter Erskine, and Mike Mainieri).
Her first live instrumental recording, Eliane Elias Plays Live, was recorded in Amsterdam on the 31st May 2002, and digitally released in the USA in 2010.
Elias lives in New York City with her husband, bassist Marc Johnson.
* Official site
The classical tradition meets the spontaneity of jazz through the virtuosic playing of Brazil-born and New York-based pianist Eliane Elias. A former member of jazz ensemble Steps Ahead, Elias has continued to explore two distinct musical streams through her solo recordings and her performances since the mid-'80s. In 1993, she became one of the few artists to release jazz and classical albums simultaneously. In a review of a concert in her homeland, Brazil magazine praised Elias for "her dazzling right-hand runs, executed often at frightening speeds. Her command of the keyboard was total. Her harmonic sensibility caused a sense of wonderment."
Elias may have inherited at least some of her musical talents from her mother, Lucy, a classical pianist who often played jazz records in the family home. After studying for six years at the Free Center of Music Apprenticeship in São Paulo, she continued to study classical technique with Amilton Godoy and Amaral Vieira. By her teens, Elias was composing her own pieces and performing in jazz clubs. While touring in Europe in 1981, she met jazz bassist Eddie Gomez and was encouraged to travel to New York. Arriving in the Big Apple the following year, she studied privately with Olegna Fuschi at the Juilliard School of Music. Elias' professional career received a boost when she was invited to join Steps Ahead, a jazz "supergroup" featuring Michael Brecker, Peter Erskine, Mike Manieri, and Eddie Gomez. She recorded one album with the group -- Steps Ahead -- in 1983. Shortly after leaving Steps Ahead, Elias began collaborating with trumpet player Randy Brecker, whom she subsequently married but later divorced. Their sole duo album, released in 1985, was named after their daughter Amanda. The following year, Elias launched her career as a bandleader. Since then, she's alternated tours with two different trios, one featuring drummer Jack DeJohnette and bassist Gomez and the other featuring drummer Erskine and her current husband, bassist Marc Johnson. Elias has also performed with a third trio, featuring Johnson on bass and Satoshi Takeishi on drums.
She signed with Blue Note in 1989, and released her debut for the label, So Far So Close, the same year with a slew of guests. While most of her recordings have been instrumental, Elias introduced her soft but coarse vocals on her 1990 album Eliane Elias Plays Jobim, and has employed vocals on occasion ever since. Her 1995 album Solos and Duets featured a brilliantly executed duet with Herbie Hancock. In addition to working periodically with Toots Thielemans' Brasil Project, Elias has served as musical director for Gilberto Gil's group. While she continued to record for the rest of the '90s, it was 2000's Impulsive! that proved one of the largest surprises in her career as she collaborated with conductor and arranger Bob Brookmeyer leading the Danish Radio Jazz Orchestra. In 2002 she left Blue Note for RCA's Bluebird label, where she debuted with Kissed by Nature, a primarily vocal album, and followed it up with the lovely Dreamer in 2004. Elias released Around the City in 2006, a collection of primarily vocal tracks that moved ever further into pop territory, covering music by Santana, Bob Marley, and even Beck. It was her final album for Bluebird.
She returned to Blue Note for 2007's Something for You: Elaine Elias Sings & Plays Bill Evans, fronting a trio with Johnson (who played with Evans) and drummer Joey Baron. In 2009, she issued what many have argued is her finest recording, Bossa Nova Stories, fully engaging her Brazilian heritage in bossa and samba and illustrating her singular jazz instincts as a pianist. In 2010, Savoy Records issued Timeless Eliane Elias, a compilation of tracks culled from her mid-'80s recordings Illusions and Cross Currents. In late 2010, Elias signed with Concord; in the late spring of 2011 she released Light My Fire, her debut set on the label. A year later, Elias paired with bassist Marc Johnson for the instrumental ECM date, Swept Away. In 2013, Elias paid homage to trumpeter/vocalist Chet Baker with I Thought About You: A Tribute to Chet Baker. ~ Craig Harris & Thom Jurek, Rovi
Girl Talk
Eliane Elias Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We chew the fat about our tresses and the neighbor's fight
Inconsequential things that men don't really care to know
Become essential things that women find so appropo
But that's a dame
We're all the same
It's just a game
We all meow about the ups and downs of all our friends
The who, the how, the why, we dish the dirt it never ends
The weaker sex, the speaker sex, you mortal males behold
But though we joke we wouldn't trade you for a ton of gold
So baby stay, don't go away
But here me say
The sweetest girl talk
Girl talk
We all meow about the ups and downs of all our friends
The who, the how, the why, we dish the dirt it never ends
The weaker sex, the speaker sex, you mortal males behold
But though we joke we wouldn't trade you for a ton of gold
So baby stay, don't go away
But here me say
The sweetest girl talk
Girl talk
The sweetest girl talk
Girl talk
The sweetest girl talk
Talk, talk
In "Girl Talk" by Eliane Elias, the lyrics explore the phenomenon of female bonding and communication. The song captures the essence of conversations women often engage in when they gather together, discussing topics that may seem trivial or inconsequential to men. The lyrics depict the commonality of these exchanges among women, highlighting the shared experiences and interests that create a sense of camaraderie.
The song emphasizes the lighthearted nature of girl talk, referring to it as a game. The conversations about dresses, hairstyles, and neighborhood gossip may seem unimportant in the grand scheme of things, but they hold immense significance for women, providing a space for connection, understanding, and support. The lyrics also playfully address the stereotype of women being more prone to gossip or express emotions openly.
Despite the playful tone, the song acknowledges the value and appreciation women have for men. The line "But though we joke we wouldn't trade you for a ton of gold" reflects the underlying sentiment that, while women may engage in girl talk and have their separate conversations, they still cherish the presence and companionship of men.
Line by Line Meaning
We like to chat about the dresses we will wear tonight
We enjoy discussing and planning the outfits we will wear for the evening
We chew the fat about our tresses and the neighbor's fight
We engage in lively conversations about our hairstyles and gossip about the quarrels happening in the neighborhood
Inconsequential things that men don't really care to know
Men often find trivial matters unimportant and unlikely to hold their interest
Become essential things that women find so appropo
Those same trivial matters become significant and relevant to women
But that's a dame
That's just how women are
We're all the same
Women share similar tendencies and behaviors in these situations
It's just a game
Engaging in these conversations and discussions is all in good fun
We call it girl talk, girl talk
We refer to these types of conversations as 'girl talk'
We all meow about the ups and downs of all our friends
We discuss and gossip about the various successes and failures experienced by our friends
The who, the how, the why, we dish the dirt it never ends
We delve into the details of who, how, and why certain events or situations occurred, constantly sharing gossip and rumors
The weaker sex, the speaker sex, you mortal males behold
Men often perceive women as the less physically strong gender, yet they recognize that women have a natural inclination for verbal communication and expression
But though we joke we wouldn't trade you for a ton of gold
Despite teasing and jesting, we wouldn't exchange you, our male counterparts, for anything of great value
So baby stay, don't go away
Please, dear companion, remain with us, don't leave
But here me say
Listen to my words
The sweetest girl talk
The most pleasant and enjoyable conversations between women
Girl talk
The act of engaging in conversation solely among females
Talk, talk
Continuing to converse and communicate
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Bobby Troup, Neal Hefti
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Virginia Passos
Delicia de música e de interpretação!!!Aguça meus sentidos e desejos....
amtrakatsfnyc
This is a beautiful composition by Bobby Troup and Neil Hefti that is sung by a beautiful lady. Eliane sings with such grace, emotion , and creativity. Thank you for sharing.
kellygymnastt
Eliane - I have been so in love with Brazilian music ever since I discovered Antonio Carlos Jobim. I have called you Brazil's Diana Krall, but I think now that Diana is Canada's Eliane Elias. Thank you for such an amazingly wonderful contribution not only to world music, but to the world. I wish I could speak Portuguese, I would be in Rio tomorrow. May God bless you always. I love you and your wonderful sound!
Arthur Kaletzky
Eliane and Diana are superb pianists and good singers, and in each of the disciplines, they're very different, almost the opposites of each other. Enjoy both!
Cornelis Ruitenberg
Well spoken Kelly, ..
Michel Motta
sensacional esta é uma de minhas canções favoritas
Marge Shilling
I'm so glad I found this! What a great arrangement.
Robert Boney
A great pianist who sings great!
Arturo Clynes
La sensualidad expresada atravez del piano y voz de Elaine Elias
sencillamente formidable...esa gran convinacion de jazz y bosa nova...excelente
Jean-Luc Bersou
Une très très belle version .La voix magnifique qui dit les "trucs de filles" !