Kissed by Nature
She may be on a different label, but the beautiful, Brazilian-born, New York-based pianist-vocalist Eliane Elias is still delivering soft and swinging music hip and hot enough for North and South America. On this CD, with her  longtime bassistMarc Johnsonand drummersJoey Baronand Paulo Braga, Elias's elegant and elastic piano springs from the influences ofHerbie Hancock,Art Tatum, and the European classical masters. That mix is heard beautifully on the hushed-toned "Apareceu" and the moving "September" and "October," which feature Randy Brecker on flugelhorn and muted trumpet. "Manhattan" is a soulful tribute to Elias's adopted hometown, and her birth country is represented by the bouncy bossa nova-choro "Luar." Along with her spare piano solos and her breathy vocals, both in English and Portuguese, Elias drops some cool, club-ready,  electronica-style remixes of the title track and "Balance," courtesy of the Brazilian DJ collective Bossacucanova. Whether the groove is acoustic or electronic, jazz or samba, it's all Eliane Elias, and it's all good.--Eugene Holley Jr.