Search - Maria Rita :: Segundo (CD & DVD)

Artistic Exploration

Only Comment On Stuff I love | Ohio | 10/11/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First time reviewer, but I'm feeling strongly about this.



Time and again, you will enjoy how Maria Rita takes risks with the minimal approach -- often simply "torch" piano, percussion and vocals.



She succeeds because she fills a song with her voice and expression/interpretation. This is a real artist, who grabs the listener with less and leaves them with more. The arrangements are spare and elegant.



Wow, this is some talent. Those who love her mother's (Elis Regina) wonderful contributions will find her daughter to be equally captivating as a musical force, but far more discerning. I find my ear trusting her incredible control of pitch and breath. She is expressive, but never leaves the music behind. This is an extremely intimate production.



You will listen over and over to this. It's like Brazilian jazz on haiku.



Enjoy!



"

MAGICAL PLEASURES, HIDDEN TREASURES -"SEGUNDO" CD/DVD

RBSProds | Deep in the heart of Texas | 10/05/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Five AMAZING Stars! WOW! Maria Rita is a true MPB SUPERSTAR, like her mom! Her velvet voice is pure MAGIC! My Brazilian friend says Maria RIta has the whole country SPELLBOUND. The CD reportedly went platinum the first day and a year later won the 2006 Latin Grammy for MPB. And this CD/"Making Of" DVD went straight to the top of the charts as of October 2005. Maria Rita is HOT!!! 'Middle-aged fans' of the late Super Diva, Elis Regina, and ace pianist/arranger Cesar Carmago Mariano are now 'groupies' of their daughter. LOL. Her shows are sold out from New York City to Lisbon, Portugal to Rio De Janiero. BTW, "Rita" is pronounced "Hee-ta".



This CD catches her rising star in midflight, after a great personal tragedy: the accidental death of her mentor, producer Tom Capone, to whom this recording is dedicated. The DVD brings us right into the studio to hear the conversations (with English subtitles, among other languages) about the songs. "Despidida" was a toughie to conquer but she 'torched' it in triumph. Song lyrics are not translated, however. Her selection of talented musicians and interesting songs continues to be flawless and perfect to her needs. And she has become more daring: in this case, ramping down to just VOICE AND TRIO. Tiago Costa sizzles on piano, the bouyant Sylvinho Mazzucca on bass, and the muscular drummer Cuca Teixeira complete the group. Daring, indeed for a sophomore effort! Songs are emotionally captivating, rhythmically sophisticated, and repeated hearings reveal HIDDEN TREASURES. Jazzy and tropical like her triple Latin Grammy winning debut CD: "Maria Rita", she has created her own niche in MPB with a voice and style that's instantly recognizable.



'Pieces D'Resistance', the best of the best, are everywhere. "Caminho das Aguas" (Path of Waters), so reminiscent of songs her mother sang, is a wonderful kick off song showing her clear voice and nuances. It was a hit single in Brazil and won the 2006 Latin Grammy for Best MPB song for composer Rodrigo Maranhao. "Recado" (Message) shows her rhythmically gymnastic capabilities and Tiago lays down a 'killer' solo and 'comping' behind her. The ballad "Casa Pre-Fabricada" is almost beautiful beyond words. On the DVD, composer Marcelo Camelo is visibly overcome by the performance as he and Maria embrace. Heck, me too. "Minha Alma" (A Paz Que Eu No Quer) (My Soul (The Peace I Don't Want) rocks hard and sweeps us away as she demonstrates her wonderful articulation. "Feliz" (Happy) is really a blues, a form at which she excels. The bonus track "Contra Outra" (Against One Another) is a live recording catching her clear voice and spellbinding approach to MPB in front of an appreciative crowd. It's the first real nod to the samba on the CD and she shows she's a master at the whole Brazilian spectrum. (Leave the CD running on track 12, at 5 minutes and 26 seconds there is a hidden bonus song.) Bravo, Maria Rita and producer Lenine.



Hint to Maria & producers: we're ready for a 'family CD' with Maria, dad Cesar, and the brothers. Instant Latin Grammy!!



(Note: We all know of the death of Maria Rita's mentor, super producer Tom Capone in a traffilc accident in Los Angeles early in the morning after her 3 Latin Grammy triumph for the CD "Maria Rita". Just hours after Tom and Maria embraced on stage in truimph. Maria was able to recover and respond with this fabulous CD and DVD, a great musical dedication to Tom Capone's memory. The future is so bright and she's taking us with her. I'm sure dad Cesar Camargo Mariano and her brothers are so proud, as Elis and Tom Capone would have been.)"

5 Stars is simply not enough!

Jeffrey Kunkel | Maplewood, NJ, USA | 01/11/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Maria Rita's "Segundo" is - simply stated - a must for anyone who enjoys music. In this release she seems to set a particular mood, and then pushes and pulls it in slightly different directions. Perhaps those who expect each new CD by a particular artist to be "ground breaking" will be disappointed, and sadly that often seems to be the prevailing attitude of the consumer public. Primarily made up of somewhat relaxed Brazilian and jazz grooves, "Segundo" does a great job of taking a musical snaphot of Maria and her talented musicians. Since this release version contains both the DVD and the CD version, it is quite a bargain for just a few dollars more than the CD alone. Maria Rita has definitely become one of my favorite artists, and I look forward to the opportunity to hear her live one day; in the meanwhile, I'll anxiously await future releases."