Amanda Brecker

Singer/songwriter Amanda Brecker's Debut Album "HERE I AM" was exclusively released in Japan on July 23rd, 2008. "HERE I AM" features 5 original compositions (music & lyrics) by Amanda, such as "Here I Am," "Novo Lugar," and "Wasted Time," as well as a few covers. Amanda Brecker was born into a very musical family. She is the daughter of Brazilian pianist/singer Eliane Elias, and the trumpeter Randy Brecker, two very prominent artists on the Jazz scene. Eliane Elias and Randy Brecker recorded their first album together in 1984 and named it "AMANDA" after the birth of their daughter. Amanda demonstrated her musical talent at a very young age. At the age of 8, her singing was featured on Eliane Elias' album "FANTASIA," interpreting Milton Nascimento's "Ponta de Areia." Following the recording, Amanda performed live with Milton Nascimento in Paris when she was 9 years old. She has since then sang on several of Eliane Elias' albums and performed live with her mother on various occasions. During her years at Bucknell University (2002-2006) where she double majored in French and Spanish and minored in Music, Amanda sang in a a co-ed A Cappella group, "Two Past Midnight," and took part in a hip-hop/funk/soul band, "Flowdown Street Six," as the lead singer and keyboardist. With Flowdown, she recorded an album during her senior year, and performed live throughout her years at Bucknell. Following her undergraduate studies, she went on to receive her Masters in French Studies at NYU in 2007. During this year, she signed with "Birds Records" and recorded her album in March 2008. Her song "Novo Lugar" (featuring solos by Eliane Elias & Randy Brecker) has been placed as the theme song in a Japanese Television Series, "Giants of Beauty." In Japan, Amanda Brecker is featured in the August 2008 issue of ADLIB Magazine, DG Table Magazine, An-An Magazine, MISS Magazine, CD Journal Magazine, BARFOUT! Magazine, Yomiuri Magazine, the August and September Issues of BOUNCE and SWING JOURNAL Magazines, as well as the September Issue of Jazz Life Magazine. "Here I Am” received the “Gold Disc Award” by Swing Journal, Japan in July 2008 and was the Number One Best selling Jazz Vocal CD in Japan in July-August 2008. Amanda performed at the Ginza International Jazz Festval in Tokyo and at the Billboard Club in Osaka in November 2008. She received the “Best New Talent Award 2008″ by Swing Journal, Japan. Amanda also won the following awards in Japan: “New Star International Prize” by ADLIB Awards 2008, and “2008 New Star Award” by Swing Journal. Her second album, "Brazilian Passion," was released in Japan on June 17, 2009. This album is a blend of Brazilian and American music, which represents Amanda's background. Most of the songs on the album are influenced by Brazilian rhythms, and features four of Amanda's original compositions: "In The Sun," "Thirsty," "Meant To Be" and "Deny Deny." Amongst other covers, the album includes special guest Ivan Lins, who participates in two of his own compositions on the album, "Ai Ai Ai Ai Ai" and "Lembra de Mim." "Brazilian Passion" has already been awarded the Gold Disc Award for the June issue of Swing Journal. Stay tuned for more updates!