MAIRA MARTINS
ww.mairamartins.net
(As Featured on I Love Bossa Nova)

Maíra Martins grew up surrounded by music, influenced by her mother, the poet Glória Horta, and her father, the musician Jorge Sá Martins, one of the founding members of the famous vocal group Garganta Profunda. She started her career singing in various vocal groups, such as Cinco a Seco and Equale. With Equale, she recorded the CD "Um Gosto de Sol", with songs by Milton Nascimento. Her solo career began in 2003. Since then she's been working on two different projects: 'Tremores', an acapella solo show, and 'Processo de Feitura', her first CD, recorded in June 2006. On the CD 'Processo de Feitura', Maíra sings an variety of modern songs by composers of her own generation, such as Rodrigo Maranhão, Edu Prestes, and Edu Krieger. Maíra Martins has degrees in music and dance. She graduated with a BA in Música Popular Brasileira (MPB) from UNIRIO (2004) and has a degree in Motor Recovery and Therapy through Dance from the Escola Angel Vianna (2007). She worked for four years as an assistant to the well known vocal teacher Angela Herz (2002-2005). She took courses on Vocal Teaching for Young Voices at the University of Colorado (2001) and on Corporal Research for Singers course with Ana Abbot and Maria Clara Hertz, coordinated by Ana Kfouri (2003-2004). She's also a music teacher, a company choir monitor, and a vocal coach for theatrical productions. Maíra Martins has done the vocal preparation for many plays, including "O Animal do Tempo" (2007), enacted by Ana Kfouri and directed by Antônio Guedes; "Última Cena para Lorca" (2005), directed by André Paes Leme; "Almas Berrantes" (2004-2005), from the Cia Teatro Anônimo, directed by Sidney Cruz; and "Esperando Godot" (2003), by the Cia Caratapa, directed by Chico Sólon. 

MAURICIO PESSOA
www.mauriciopessoa.com
(As Featured on Brazil:Sambossica 2) 

Rio de Janeiro native Mauricio Pessoa is a 32-year-old singer/songwriter emanating from the current crop of young Brazilian music artists. A cool generation of global-minded new talents hat are keeping the great Brazilian musical tradition alive and well. Mauricio's original compositions are influenced by the classic Bossa Nova and MPB (Musica Popular Brasileira) music of composers such as Antonio Carlos Jobim, Chico Buarque, Joao Gilberto, Paulinho da Viola and other Brazilian greats. 

Pessoa has been performing solo or with his group since 2006 in some of Rio's most famous venues as well as in important tribute concerts along with major Brazilian stars such as Joao Bosco, Ney Matogrosso and Zeca Pagodinho. One of these performances 'Uma Noite, Noel Rosa' (One Night, Noel Rosa), a tribute to the great Samba composer Noel Rosa was recorded and released on CD and DVD by Universal Music Brasil. 

In 2007, Pessoa records and release his self-titled debut album produced by Rodrigo Campello also on Universal Music Brasil. The album comprised of 11 original songs was very well received by the public and acclaimed by the press as ''a successful start for a Carioca artist featuring brilliantly composed music" (Mauro Ferreira, critic, 'O Dia' newspaper). 

In 2010 Pessoa finalizes his sophomore album entitled 'Habitat' produced in New York by arranger and reeds player Ze Luis Oliveira and producer/A&R Beco Dranoff. The album is the result of Pessoa's long-standing dream to record in the USA, where Bossa Nova and Brazilian music first got worldwide attention. 

Recorded in December 2009 at Spin Studios in New York, HABITAT is centered on a concept, sonic palette and repertoire that was meticulously discussed and planned by Mauricio and producers, Ze Luis and Beco. The trio decided that the direction was to go 'old school' recording all the musicians at once live in the studio. Culling material from Pessoa's wealth of original material, the band was assembled for a marathon of rehearsals and arranging sessions at Ze Luis' studio at the Music Building.

The band includes Mauricio Pessoa (classic guitar and vocal), Ze Luis Oliveira (wood winds, percussion, arrangements), Simone Giuliani (piano), Jim Robertson (double bass) and Kenny Grohowsky (drums). The string quartet is Antoine Silverman (violin), Jonathan Dinklage (violin), Todd Low (viola) and Anja Wood (cello). Other musicians included are Darcy (trombone) and Ze Mauricio (percussion). 

The ten songs on HABITAT reflect the Brazilian landscape drawing inspiration from Pessoa's experiences traveling back and forth to Brazil. Mainly influenced by Bossa Nova, Samba and Jazz, the CD consists of a transcontinental trip through diverse rhythms, sounds and themes. 

ELIZA LACERDA
www.myspace.com/elizalacerda
(As Featured on Brazil:Sambossica 2)

Eliza Lacerda began her career with just seven years of age with the disk recording folk music that enchanted Showcante produced by Joaquim de Paula.His participation in the project was not limited to choirs, was invited to be a child of the soloists.In 2001 he participated in the Coral Coast Muri ridden by Maestro to sing at the opening of Rock'n Rio III with the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra and Maestro Ray Lemma.With Voice Choir Co., accompanied Danilo Caymmi CD Tracks season at the Teatro Rival and the launch of the College Campus Dorival Caymmi Estacio de Sa.Member of Cia Cia Singers Voice Karla Boechat, Eliza sang in several shows such as "Worker's Song" (named after Gonzales), "Duets," "Just wanted to Destiny" (named after Roberto Carlos) and " Poet's Village "(in honor of Noel Rosa). In 2002, Eliza auditioned for the vocal group Women of Holland and has since become a component of the quintet that sings only the female of the work of Chico Buarque.

The group has been standing out in the music scene in Rio sold out in all theaters wherever he goes (Rival Theatre SESC, Sala Baden Powell, Mistura Fina, Little Theatre Café). All this experience and information have matured the idea of ​​a solo album, which had complete freedom in their design. In 2005, in partnership with producer, arranger and conductor Flavio Mendes (Maestro of the show Bibi Ferreira in Concert III and guitarist Bossacucanova, among others) began to produce his first CD, titled "Foot Dance ". always influenced by the sounds of Brazil, Eliza disc which has the best in the country. The already established Caetano, Gil, Carlinhos Brown and Lenine share tracks with new people that bring air to the disc a couple of contemporary popular music Brazilian. A daring repertoire sung and played with the right doses of talent and technique by Eliza Lacerda is gradually finding its place in the ears and curious of Brazil and the world. From your CD, Eliza was selected for the Project Gloss held in Rio de Janeiro in 2006.

Project that proposed to assemble the new singers in Brazilian music scene. In July 2007 Women's Holland recorded his first CD / DVD live at Teatro Municipal de Niterói. In August of that year CD "Foot Dance" sparked interest across the world and was launched in the Japanese market. independent bands had already been included in compilations of Brazilian music in Europe and Japan Eliza was called to join the casting of the label and in 2008 Albatross recorded and released in Asia, Japan and Brazil, the CD "Kid's Bossa." Music U.S. infant arranged in bossa nova sung in solo or duets with a singer mirim. Even at the end of 2008 recorded a duet with Guinga for the CD "A friend is for these things "to be released in 2009.