Eliane Elias takes a break from singing to show off her formidable piano chops in a pair of trio settings with Marc Johnson/b & Satoshi Takeishi/d or Eddie Gomez & Jack Dejohnette/dr. Manolo Badrena takes a break from his stint with Ahmad Jamal to add some hip percussion as well, delivering a table dance to “A Little Gossip.”
Elias has a graceful dash of Vince Guaraldi on the melodic take of “The Impossible Dream” while sauntering on a Latin groover of “I’m Only Thinking of Him.” She shows a relaxed touch which gives a hint of Bill Evans (understandably, with Gomez, DeJohnette and Johnson all being alumni) on a sublime “Dulcinea” while getting hip to the drum pattern of “Man of La Mancha.” Elias percolates on the richly swinging “To Each His Dulcinea” and lilts with confident double fists on “The Barber’s Song.” Impressively strong, with the lady showing a side of her that is not appreciated.