So what's your excuse for not being in Monterey, the center of the jazz universe right now?
Yeah, obligations can be a pain, but we Bay Area stay-at-homers have a fine consolation prize this weekend in the form of dynamic Brazilian pianist-singer Eliane Elias. Opening a weekend run at Yoshi's San Francisco, the blond whirlwind was a breath of fresh, tropical air.
Certainly anyone who's paid much attention to Elias -- who's been making brilliant connections between straight-ahead jazz and Brazilian styles for more than two decades -- knows she can take just about anything and turn it into bossa nova magic. Exhibit A on Friday was Stevie Wonder's "My Cherie Amour," a highlight from Elias' new album, "Light My Fire." With Elias caressing the lyrics with her breathy, seductive style, you had to pay attention to note the keyboard wizardy she was performing at the same time, slyly injecting the tune with bouncy rhythmic undertones.
The legendary Gilberto Gil's "Bananeira" was textbook slice of Latin jazz magic that highlighted the supreme flexibility of the bossa nova style. What in Gil's hands would be simple guitar-and-voice tune full of folkish charm was for Elias a grand opportunity to let her improvisational jazz instincts run, referencing piano influnces ranging from Art Tatum to McCoy Tyner.
More curious was the new album's title tune, delivered in a form that made little reference either to The Doors' swaggering original or Jose Feliciano's flamenco remake. For Elias, it was an oppotunity to turn Jim Morrison's sweaty come-on into a jasmine-scented seduction, followed by a raucous instrumental coda (including a positively heroic run by bassist Marc Johnson) that told you everything you needed to know about what happen's once the fire is lit.
Elias performs again at 8 and 10 p.m. tonight and 7 p.m. Sunday at Yoshi's San Francisco. Tickets are $25.
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