For a long time,
Eliane Elias seemed like a fixture at Blue Note. The Brazilian singer/pianist started recording for that well-known jazz label in the late '80s, and she was still on Blue Note when the 21st century arrived. But in 2002,
Elias did the unexpected and moved to RCA;
Kissed by Nature is her first RCA release. For the most part, this is a vocal album, although
Elias does get in some likable solos -- and this time, she emphasizes relaxed, laid-back Brazilian pop-jazz.
Kissed by Nature is essentially Brazilian easy listening, although it isn't bloodless elevator Muzak; even at her most commercial,
Elias probably has too much substance and integrity for the average smooth jazz/NAC station. One thing she doesn't have is a great voice. While
Elias is an excellent pianist, her voice is undeniably thin -- as a vocalist, she doesn't have a fantastic range by any means. But despite
Elias' obvious limitations as a singer, her vocals (some in English, some in Portuguese, and some wordless) are pleasant enough on caressing pop-jazz originals like "A Volta," "Balancê," and the title track. No one will accuse
Elias' singing of being in a class with the five-star performances of
Gal Costa or
Ithamara Koorax, but she does bring warmth and sincerity to her singing -- and those things count for something. Most of the material on
Kissed by Nature was written or co-written by
Elias; the exception is a medley of songs by Brazilian superstar
Djavan, and that medley is arguably the album's standout track (which isn't to say that
Elias' own writing isn't respectable).
Kissed by Nature won't go down in history as one of
Elias' essential releases, but it's a decent effort that's worth hearing if you need a dose of Brazilian mood music. ~ Alex Henderson