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26 of 26 found the following review helpful:
 Graduating from Krall to Elias Sep 12, 2004
By Trooperboots
I immersed myself in the beauty of Diana Krall's masterpiece "The Look of Love"... and the "Live in Paris" DVD.... when, after many months of anticipation, Krall gave us her depressing "Girl in the Other Room".... what a let-down. I heard this album by Elias tonight for the first time, and THIS is the kind of album and quality orchestration I thought Krall would have given us... now we hear an even better voice, richer, bolder, and not intimidated by an orchestra in the least.... yet sultry, sexy and with marvelous phrasing, not to mention first class arrangements and musicianship. I love this album... it's my new favorite.
35 of 37 found the following review helpful:
"And The Only Heart I Own, For You And You Alone . . . That's All. . . That's All" Nov 14, 2004
By Rebecca*rhapsodyinblue*
Gifted with warm, husky and smooth voice and an exceptional piano playing skills, Eliane Elias could well be among the finest jazz artists of our time. If versatility is the name of the game, she could easily be signed up in the league. She's also a composer, arranger and producer. This fine CD covers eleven tracks and backed-up by a full orchestra conducted by Rob Mathes, who has also worked with Carly Simon, Stevie Wonder and Sting, among many others.
This CD is so pleasant to the ears and starts with her beautiful and dreamy rendition of "Call Me," a song made popular by Petula Clark in the '60s and another beautiful version from Astrud Gilberto. The perfect ender is her heartfelt and intense instrumental rendition of "A House Is Not A Home," a Bacharach/David composition. It is so poignant it touched my heart and every time I hear it I can't help being teary-eyed and melancholic. She did an excellent performance on this track, she plays as if she's deeply touched with the essence of the song.
In my opinion, the best tracks aside from the finale are some Bossa Nova staples, the bubbly and vibrant "Baubles, Bangles and Beads," a more relaxed rendition of ever charming "So Nice" and the dreamy title track Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Dreamer." And of course an all-time gem by Alan Brandt and Bob Haymes "That's All," a song with meaningful and sincere lyrics that goes...
"I can only give you love that lasts forever
And a promise to be near each time you call
And the only heart I own for you and you alone
That's all, that's all
I can only give you country walks in springtime
And a hand to hold when leaves begin to fall
And a love whose burning light will warm the winter night
That's all, that's all
There are those, I am sure, who have told you
They would give you the world for a toy
All I have are these arms to enfold you
And a love time can never destroy
If you're wondering what I'm asking in return, dear,
You'll be glad to know that my demands are small
Say it's me that you'll adore for now and ever more
That's all, that's all"
This sweet and lovely CD is worth listening to and deserves my highest recommendation to music enthusiasts who appreciate Bossa Nova tunes and a rare talent such as Eliane Elias.
22 of 23 found the following review helpful:
Sultry, beautiful, lush... May 05, 2004
By Annette P. Mason
As a longtime fan of Eliane Elias I was very much looking forward to this new release, and I must say that I am thrilled with this CD. Her wistful, sultry, whispery vocals are expertly complimented by her amazing keyboard talents and lush orchestration. Each song is beautiful in its subtlety, and while the majority of songs are familiar (Call Me, Baubles, Banges and Beads, So Nice, That's All, Tangerine, A House is Not a Home)she presents a delightful interpretation that makes them sound new again.This will be the first CD I grab when I need to relax by the pool and sip on a papaya smoothie. If you haven't experienced Eliane Elias before, this would be an awesome introduction to her talents. Highest recommendation!!
7 of 7 found the following review helpful:
Eliane made me smile and then made me weep with a smile in my heart Dec 31, 2005
By David A. Kepes
"David Kepes"
As someone who has always loved the sound of female vocalists singing ballads, having been raised in the constantly flowing waves of my own mother's lovely alto voice, and further loving jazz as well as the Bossa Nova songs of Jobim, Gilberto, Nascimento etc. I just can not resist the music of Eliane Elias. Her sultry voice, her gorgeous touch on the ivory are true gifts to any listener. She is a wonderful talent blending two cultures so naturally in her own musical style.
Dreamer is my favorite of all her albums! It will take you many places and if, like me, you have been around more than 50 years you will hear songs that touch many memories from years gone by, though none of them has ever had this feel to them before. Listen to them in any order you want and you will never be off beat.
Last time through I started with the old Wright and Forrest classic, Baubles, Bangles and Beads. Her singing of the lyrics is wonderful light and full of life but then she just takes off on the piano solo that takes it to another level and if your feet are still, make sure you have a pulse cause it really swings. Then one can ease the tempo down while she slowly and softly does the lyrics to That's All, almost whispering and then gently, but perfectly, taking a walk out into a lovely improvised solo and softly leading it back to a seamless finishing of the lyrics.
Each song is a gem. Her work with the traditional Bossa Nova pieces are all wonderful as she puts her own touch on the title track as well as Fotografia, Samba de Verao and Doralice, a wonderful tribute to Joao Gilberto starting out with only the acoustic guitar sound of the master, she jumps into a solo that is again wonderful and seemingly perfectly woven. The ease with which she makes the pop hit Call Me seem as if it has always been a Bossa Nova ballad is so marvelous and again the piano is just right.
But every time I have enough time and tranquility to hear this album with nothing else in the way I always let the last song be the final song listened to. Perhaps it is the old memories that this Bacharach, David song brings back from throughout my life or memories of other's like Luther Vandross giving it new wings in recent years (listen to him sing it on his Live Radio City Music Hall 2003 CD) but for whatever reason the song is magical in its own right and then Ms Elias plays it as a pure instrumental at the end of her album and I find myself softly weeping with a smile in my heart, somehow transported through bitter and sweet memories from the houses I have lived in and the occupants therein both here and gone. Music has the ability to open our souls in magical ways and Eliane gently but wonderfully takes me somewhere that allows emotions to flow freely as her sensual voice and fingers have done in making this album. Buy it and let yourself be a dreamer.
8 of 9 found the following review helpful:
One of her best! Aug 22, 2004
By E. Macomber
"gmonet"
What most people came to recognize as Brazilian music was a combination of melody and rythym. The idea that strings make a Brazilian song elevator music negates great songs recorded by Jobim, Gilberto or Valle. This CD is full of beautiful melodies and lush rythyms. The songs are varied and one challenge for you is to guess which one is mis-titled! You Jobim lovers will know, and that is my only hint. "Baubles, Bangles & Beads" hints of the George Shearing take on the classic by Borodin. The surprise of the disc is her version of an almost overdone Valle classic, " So Nice." She makes it sound new and refreshing, and for a huge collector of Brazilian music, that is saying something. Finally, and no one will mention this, the album art...Whew! I'll say no more, other than if I was only 20 years younger and a gazillionaire! Not since Gilberto's "Amoroso" disc has anything been more carefully thought out!
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