As its title suggests, Made In Brazil represents a musical homecoming for the Grammy nominated pianist, vocalist, composer and arranger – the first time she's recorded an album in her native Brazil since moving to the US in 1981. Supremely understated, with a minimum of vibrato, impeccable pitching and phrasing that glides effortlessly across the bar line, Elias's singing seems somehow effortless. Coupled with the rhythmic and harmonic subtleties of her piano playing, some well-chosen guests including Take 6 and Ed Motta, plus an impeccable track list, and you have a new classic of Brazilian jazz. Bookended by two wonderful Ary Barroso songs, the beautiful ‘Brasil (Aquarela do Brasil)’ and the Carmen Miranda-associated ‘No Tabuleiro da Baiana’, we also hear a brace of songs from Roberto Menescal (‘Você’ and ‘Rio’), with the composer on guitar, and Antônio Carlos Jobim (a grooving ‘Águas de Março’ and an ingenious mash-up of ‘Este Seu Olhar’ and ‘Promessas’). As on Elias's sublime 2008 album, Bossa Nova Stories, seven of the album's 12 tracks feature beautiful orchestral arrangements by Rob Mathes recorded at Abbey Road Studios.