Brazilian Music: Marisa Monte (MPB)

Marisa Monte studied singing, piano and drums as a child. In her teens, Marisa performed in the musical Rocky Horror Show, but continued her formal voice coaching. By the time she was 18, Marisa went to Italy where she remained for 10 months, studying belcanto. When Marisa returned to Brazil, she shifted to Brazilian popular singing and started singing in bars and nightclubs accompanied by her friends. It was in one of these shows that the composer, music reviewer and manager Nelson Motta spotted the young, talented singer. In 1987, Motta directed the singer's first major show, "Veludo Azul", in Rio de Janeiro. While touring Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Marisa aroused the interest of record companies. Before recording her first album "Marisa Monte ao Vivo", she was already acclaimed by the audience and the critics. Featuring an eclectic repertoire - from Candeia to Gershwin - the album included some of Marisa's greatest hits, such as "Bem que Se Quis" (Nelson Motta's version of the song "E Po' Che Fa'", by Pino Daniele), "Chocolate" (Tim Maia) and "Negro Gato" (Getúlio Cortes).

With her following album, "Mais", Marisa made her international debut and wrote her first songs: "Beija Eu" (with Arto Lindsay and Arnaldo Antunes) and "Ainda Lembro" (with Nando Reis). She then released two more albums: "Verde, Anil, Amarelo, Cor-de-rosa e Carvão" (including the songs "Dança da Solidão", by Paulinho da Viola, "Balança Pema", by Jorge Ben Jor, and "Maria de Verdade", by Carlinhos Brown) and the double album "Barulhinho Bom", including new songs and live performances.

With her cool manners, Marisa Monte keeps a low profile avoids the media when she’s not touring or releasing new material.

Marisa has also performed with old school members of the samba school Portela (Velha Guarda da Portela). In 2000, Marisa produced and sang on the album "Tudo Azul". She has also produced Carlinhos Brown's disc, "Omelete Man".

Career albums

TRIBALISTAS-2002
MEMÓRIAS, CRÔNICAS E DECLARAÇÕES DE AMOR-2000
BARULHINHO BOM-1996
VERDE ANIL AMARELO COR DE ROSA E CARVÃO-1994
MAIS-1991
MARISA MONTE-1989

posted by nscafuro @ 9:51 AM