Eliana Pittman: Brazilian Treasure

Last week I posted on Nara Leão, one of Brazil's best kept vocal secrets. This week, I want to share with you Eliana Pittman, also a Brazilian treasure who today still tours moderately and acts on TV. [Photo above of Eliana Pittman]

Pittman is a singing star who started recording in 1962, when she teamed with her stepfather, Booker Pittman, the grandson of Booker T. Washington and a clarinetist who moved to Brazil from the U.S. in 1937. Richly photogenic with a vocal ease and a dazzling smile, Eliana Pittman started singing bossa nova, but by the early '70s she shifted to the more rhythmic and festive samba. With her supper-club persona, rounded voice and vast knowledge of songs, she toured globally and wound up on TV in France, the U.S. and many other countries. [Photo above of Eliana Pittman]

Here are 10 clips that illustrate her beautiful style and compelling voice:

Here she is in 1962 with stepdad Booker Pittman...

Here's 10 minutes of Pittman in 1965...

Here's Pittman in Paris in 1967...

Here's Pittman in Cannes, France, with Sacha Distel in 1970...

Here's Pittman's recording of Antônio Carlos Jobim and Chico Buarque's Sabia...

Here's 37 minutes of Pittman in 1966 on the full album of É preciso cantar [You Need to Sing]...

Here's Pittman singing E Você Nem Viu from her album Estrela e lua nova in 1969...

Here's Pittman in her Brazilian soul period singing Nem Saudade from her Eliana Pittman album in 1972...

Here's Pittman in the 2000s performing Esse Mar é Meu by João Nogueira...

Here's Pittman performing Dorival Caymmi's O Samba da minha terra...

And here's Pittman with Trio Sinfonico performing Gamei...