March 10-16, 2005

musicpicks

Eliane Elias

jazz

For two-plus decades, Eliane Elias gained note as a passionate pianist with panache for blending her Brazilian roots with the jazz idiom. Along the way, she sprinkled in some singing, including a disc of Antonio Carlos Jobim tunes. Based on her latest release, Dreamer (Bluebird RCA), it appears that vocalizing is more than just a lark for this lady. Heck, a full orchestra backs her up as she emotes tunes from bossa nova to the American popular songbook, plus some originals. Elias' husky vocals embody an easygoing quality along with plenty of that thing called swing. And while it may not carry quite the depth or multifaceted dynamics as her piano playing, Elias' voice is certainly warm, pleasurable and holds its own against the orchestra. Of course, things will be scaled down to an intimate small group format when she appears at cozy Zanzibar Blue.

Fri.-Sat., March 11-12, 8 and 10 p.m., $35, Zanzibar Blue, 200 S. Broad St., 215-732-4500.

—Deni Kasrel