Distant from the mass-market mentality of the United States pop music industry in more ways than one, the MPB field has been and continues to be ripe with beautiful and lively music, with Maria Rita's debut album standing tall as an exemplary document of the sort of music blossoming in America's other hemisphere. This beautiful and beautiful-sounding young lady is the daughter of one of Brazil's most (if not the most) legendary vocalists, the late Elis Regina, and if that alone weren't enough to make her a star-in-waiting, her father is César Camargo Mariano, one of the country's top arrangers, producers, and pianists, and her namesake is Rita Lee, yet another MPB legend. Add to that a close musical partnership with Milton Nascimento, who pens "A Festa," the ear-grabbing opening track of her album, and you can see why the MPB world was eagerly awaiting her recording debut. And what an album it is, from beginning to end a joyful listening experience with no low points whatsoever and a pair of absolutely astonishing high points, the aforementioned "A Festa" and the mid-album standout "Cara Valente." These two party-starters highlight what is otherwise a collection of delicate songs of varying tempo, all of them distinct in numerous ways. What each song shares, however, is a purely acoustic, slightly jazzy musical backing and also a lyrical performance by Rita, who possesses a tender voice not unlike that of her mother as well as an emotive delivery that accentuates her vocals with a rich sense of humanity. Moreover, Rita's voice benefits from pristine production courtesy of Tom Capone, one of Brazil's finest. Like Bebel Gilberto's Tanto Tempo solo debut from a few years prior, Maria Rita is the sort of masterpiece that has all the makings of a crossover success, the sort of album that is likely to be a great many listeners' first experience with popular Brazilian music, and deservedly so. [Originally released by Warner Music Brasil in late 2003, Maria Rita was repackaged for stateside release in 2004. The U.S. edition includes international-minded back-cover blurbs from critics touting the album: "To understand what Maria Rita means to the Brazilian musical market, think Norah Jones," for instance. This edition also is enhanced, including a delightful video for "Cara Valente" and links to Rita's website, where additional tracks were available for download.] ~ Jason Birchmeier
Sony Music Distribution.
Personnel: Maria Rita (vocals); Bocato (trombone); Tiago Costa (piano, Fender Rhodes piano); Fabio Sa, Jorge Helder (bass instrument); Marcelo DaCosta (drums); Tom Capone (pandeiro, tambourine).
A Wonderful Musical Debut by Maria Rita If you haven't bought this wonderful self-titled CD yet, "You're Late"!! It's the debut CD of the new Princess of MPB, Maria Rita (Mariano), and it's a musical triumph. It's already gone Diamond in Brasil (that's past Triple Platinum), Gold in Portugal, and has spurred sales around the world, reportedly nearing 1 Million copies. Her duet with her 'musical godfather' Milton Nascimiento on "Tristesse", from Milton's own "Pieta" CD, won him a Grammy in 2003. And the "Maria Rita" CD itself has generated 7 Latin Grammy nominations on it's own in 2004, including Record of the Year ("A Festa"). and Artist of the Year. Whew!! Even the stunning "Maria Rita" video DVD, which contains many of this CD's songs, recorded live at Bourbon Street in Sao Paulo before a sold-out audience, has gone platinum and reached #1 on the charts in Brasil. Time to catch up to Maria Rita. She's Hot! Hot! Hot!!
While MR's singing style and on-stage presence and gestures have great similarities to her legendary mother, the late Elis Regina, and to jazz queen Ella Fitzgerald (her major vocal influence), she is already her own singer. Sometimes singing barefoot and using lots of 'body english', she understands the use of nuance, space, building tension, and drama: like her mom did. With a self-assured, mature voice that is pure, clear, and rangy, she uses an excellent, jazzy acoustical quintet to fully display her vocal talent over a wide range of songs and styles. And they all deliver!!
The songs are astute choices from mostly contemporary writers and she is magnificent on each one! "A Festa" (The Party), a wonderful bouncy reworking of Richie Valens "La Bamba", and the samba "Cara Valente" have both been on the 'Top 100' charts in Brasil. She rocks hard on "Lavadeira Do Rio", made all the more attractive with it's crazy 'call-response' bridge (On the DVD, she is a dancing dervish while singing this song). "Nao Vale a Pena" ("It's Not Worth It'') is beautiful 'torch singing' and Ella would be proud of her bluesy approach to this ballad. Milton's "Encontros E Despedidas", previously recorded by her mom, is a multi-layered waltz and MR makes it touchingly her own: her soaring, wordless obbligato sticks in the mind for days. The bolero, "Dos Guardenias", sung in castilian Spanish is a big suprise and gets a heartfelt performance. A big "Salute" to drummer Marco Da Costa for his great arrangements, to Milton, Marcelo Camelo (the CD's lottery winner in songwriting), Claudio Lins (for "Cupido"'s wonderful pallet), to rock queen Rita Lee (especially for the sassy "Agora So Falta Voce" (You're All I Need), and to super producer Tom Capone's dead-on way of presenting this magnificent artist to the public.
(Post Script) 'The Legend' behind this CD begins over two years ago. Milton Nascimento in Brasil, who was given his songwriting start by the late Elis Regina, kept calling Maria Rita in New York, saying "I don't know what you're waiting for ". She was happily working in film production following her graduation from NYU, far from the music world. This CD tells us what Milton already knew from listening to a studio demo MR made years ago in Brasil. Apparently, Maria Rita, thought to be "the least musical" of Elis Regina's children, had quietly been carrying the full genetic vocal inheritance of her mother and the musical sensibility of her father, Cesar Mariano, for 24 years. She took Milton's challenge, packed up, and headed for Brasil. From that point, she began to sharpen her own distinct vocal style in small clubs in Sao Paulo, until sold-out crowds of adoring fans forced her into larger sold-out venues. It's said her voice brought some Elis Regina fans to tears. Logically, a trip into the recording studio was the final step. The results are on this wonderful CD, which was launched with a great deal of fanfare and positive reviews around the world. Any fan of Elis Regina, indeed any fan of great MPB will really enjoy this CD and the DVD will dazzle you. Maria Rita is the Real Deal! Five Big Stars!!
(Note: the two internet song downloads, "Vero" and "Estrela, Estrela" require Windows-based computers and an ISP. One wonders why Warner just didn't record them to the disk or put them on a later CD....)
Submitted by RBSProds (Deep In The Heart of Texas) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 1 of 1 found this helpful.
big talents i am brazilian, and Maria Rita is one of the bests representations from brazilian music; its good to know that an american (texan, as you can see below) likes brazilian music; go girl! Submitted by a brazilian (capital of brazil) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 1 of 2 found this helpful.
WHAT A TALENT! I have just recently heard of Maria Rita, while researching the discography of her late mother, Elis Regina.
Having read the reviews for this album, I just had to buy it!
Well, ever since then I keep going back to this CD, it is simply AMAZING!
I love her gentle voice,interpretation, and the jazzy influence on many of the songs.
Coming from a family of musicians and being a singer myself, I have been exposed to many great artists over the years, but Maria Rita is very unique. Her mother would have been SO PROUD of her! Submitted by Kristina (Toronto, ON, Canada) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
SIMPLY TERRIFIC! As musician, producer and recording engineer I must tell that this record is one of the best musical and greatly sounding albums of brasilian MPB music I ever heard!! Maria Rita joins an amazing talent and soul that are stamped in every track of the CD. The arragments and production are superb as well as the musicians and the sound of this record is clearly natural and transparent... a GREAT JOB here!!!
Well, no more comments... listen to it, enjoy it and I'm sure, (just as I did) you'll want to play it again and again :) Submitted by luispinto (Lisbon, Portugal) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
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