Eliane Elias (born March 19, 1960 in São Paulo, Brazil) learned the piano at age 7, and was transcribing solo portions of her parents’
jazz records by the age of 12. After studying for 6 years (and teaching by age 15) at Brazil’s prestigious Free Center of Music Apprenticeship, she continued her classical education with
Amilton Godoy and
Amaral Vieria. She was also the protégé of
Vinicius de Moraes, lyricist and songwriting partner of
Antonio Carlos Jobim, a huge influence on Eliane’s work, and master of the Brazilian
bossa nova movement.