Search - Maria Rita :: Maria Rita

A Wonderful, Mesmerizing Debut! Triple Latin Grammy-Winner i

RBSProds | Deep in the heart of Texas | 07/26/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you haven't bought this wonderful self-titled Latin Grammy-winning 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 Latin Grammy in 2003. And the "Maria Rita" CD itself has won three Latin Grammys for "New Star", MBP song: "A Festa" and "MPB Record 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!!! (BTW, Rita is pronounced "Hee Ta")



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" (Brave Guy) have both been on the 'Top 100' charts in Brasil. She rocks hard on "Lavadeira Do Rio" (Laundrywoman of the River), 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" (Meetings and Farewells) is a multi-layered jazz waltz and MR makes it touchingly her own: her soaring, wordless obbligato on the bridge sticks in the mind (It's a kick hearing drummer Marco da Costa dropping Elvin Jones-like bombs behind her). 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 Nascimento's songs, to Marcelo Camelo (the CD's lottery winner in songwriting), Claudio Lins (for "Cupido"'s wonderful pallet), to rock queen Rita Lee (Maria Rita's namesake) especially for the sassy "Agora So Falta Voce" (You're All I Need), and to super producer Tom Capone.



It's all in Portuguese and Spanish, but "if you don't mind, it won't matter". Her powerful delivery speaks to the heart. I speak no Portuguese and this is my "road" CD. It's wonderful!



(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, called 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. This CD tells us what Milton already knew from listening to MR 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 DNA vocal inheritance of her mother and the musical sensibility of her father, Cesar Mariano, for 24 years. She, based on her own curiosity about the possibilities, took Milton's challenge, packed up, and headed back to 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 MR and Elis Regina fans forced her into larger sold-out venues. It's said her voice brought some of the Elis Regina fans to tears. Logically, a trip into the recording studio was the final step. The results are on this wonderful award winning 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!!

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A singular new voice in Brazil

Cristina Corrada | Puerto Rico | 03/27/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Maria Rita is Elis Regina's daughter product of an extraordinary upbringing and the best music one could wish in a household. This CD is increible and moves along the lines of jazzy- bossa-nova but in Brazil nowadays. I would even recommend her DVD of a live concert."

What a breathtaking voice... can't wait for more!

J. Bek | Miami, FL United States | 05/07/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you enjoyed the Elis of the 60's and the work she did with Jobim, you'll love this CD. Maria sounds very much like her mother did so long ago.. the Elis of the 60's when Bossa Nova was the rage... The best way to describe Maria's voice on this album is.. SILKY. Support Maria and buy this album. You won't be dissappointed!"