This best-of collection tellingly starts off with four consecutive tracks from Elias' 1991 album A Long Story. The disc doesn't get out from under the wordless vocals and synth pads until track seven, {"Fantasia (To Amanda),"} a teasingly short duet with bassist Eddie Gomez. Then, from tracks eight through 12 you're on more solid ground, as Elias shows her mettle in more organic settings. With players like Marc Johnson, Peter Erskine, Jack DeJohnette, and Christian McBride present, the musicianship is excellent. ~ David R. Adler, All Music Guide
Who doesn't like a Best of CD, it's all your favorite tunes in one package, similar to receiving the perfect birthday gift. These 14-tracks of Elias' best works on The Best Of Eliane Elias, Voume 1 Originals are a mixture of jazz and strong titillating Brazilian influences with her amazing vocals. Although she's never considered herself a vocalist, her style in the tradition of her esteemed countrymen Jobim and Joao Gilberto always possesses a haunting beauty that sways in the mist of a warm island breeze.
-Ron Scott
Back In Time; A Long Story; Just Kidding; Life Goes On; Caipora; An Up Dawn; Fantasia (To Amanda); Paulistana; So In Love; The Time Is Now; That's All It Was; Bowing To Bud; Nightimer; At First Sight.
Eliane Elias, Piano, Vocals & Synthesizers; Marc Johnson, Eddie Gomez, Christian McBride, Anthony Jackson, Lincoln Goines, Will Lee, Basses; Peter Erskine, Dave Weckl, Jack DeJohnette, Carl Allen, Satoshi Takeishi, Portinho, Drums; Mino Cinelu, Manolo Badrena, Cafe, Don Alias, Percussion; Mark Ledford, Amanda Elias Brecker, Vocals; Dave Valentin, Flute; Randy Brecker, Trumpet/Flugelhorn; Michael Brecker, Tenor Sax; Jim Beard, Synthesizer; Oscar Castro-Neves, Jon Herington, Guitars.
| Album Credits | |
Performance Credits |
|
| Amanda Elias Brecker | Vocals |
| Anthony Jackson | Bass (Electric) |
| Carl Allen | Drums |
| Christian McBride | Bass (Acoustic) |
| Dave Valentin | Flute |
| Dave Weckl | Drums |
| Don Alias | Percussion |
| Eddie Gomez | Bass (Acoustic) |
| Eliane Elias | Synthesizer |
| Jack DeJohnette | Drums |
| Jon Herington | Guitar |
| Lincoln Goines | Bass (Electric) |
| Manolo Badrena | Percussion |
| Marc Johnson | Bass (Acoustic) |
| Mark Ledford | Vocals |
| Michael Brecker | Sax (Tenor) |
| Mino Cinelu | Percussion |
| Oscar Castro-Neves | Guitar |
| Peter Erskine | Drums |
| Portinho | Drums |
| Randy Brecker | Flugelhorn |
| Satoshi Takeishi | Drums |
Technical Credits |
|
| David McEowen | Compilation |
| Gary Solomon | Engineer |
| Gordon Jee | Creative Director |
| Jay Gullixson | Cover Photo |
| Jeffrey K. Dovner | Engineer |
| Jessica Novod | Art Direction |
| Joe Ferla | Engineer |
| Malcolm Pollack | Engineer |
| Mike Krowiak | Engineer |
| Paul Wickliffe | Engineer |
| Pete Christensen | Engineer |