“New Trend,” Classic Sound

After paying tribute to the work of the legendary Bill Evans on last year's Something of You, Brazilian-born pianist and singer Eliane Elias returns to her native roots to celebrate Bossa Nova: The First 50 Years, part of the Arsht Center’s Jazz Roots series. Elias will be in great company — guitarist Oscar Castro-Neves was one of the original creative forces who helped to shape that musical revolution in the late Fifties, along with others including Jobim and João Gilberto. Tonight’s tribute also features the legendary Ivan Lins, who sought inspiration in the genre's quiet sophistication to create some of the most memorable melodies of the Seventies and Eighties in Brazil.

Rounding out Elias’s rhythm section are her husband, bassist Marc Johnson, and drummer Paulo Braga. For this South Florida appearance, expect to hear many of bossa nova-era classics alongside Brazilian-tinged tunes from the Great American songbook. Some of them can be heard on Elias' forthcoming CD, Bossa Nova Stories. It goes down smooth at the Arsht Center. Tickets range from $45 to $125.
Fri., Dec. 12, 2008