BRAZUKA FINA (Helena Cutter)
www.helenacutter.com.br
(As Featured on Brazil:Sambossica 2)

Helena Cutter nasceu no Rio de Janeiro e sua estréia nos palcos foi aos 5 anos no Karaokê Manga Rosa, onde seu pai era sócio, cantando “Ovelha Negra” de Rita Lee. Cresceu ouvindo e cantando boa música, Chico Buarque, Tom Jobim, Ella Fitzgerald e Beatles faziam parte do repertório que cantava para a mãe na cozinha de sua casa no Leblon.

Aos 17 anos entrou para a Escola de Teatro Martins Pena e se formou atriz. Três anos depois, quando fazia um comercial, conheceu Tomaz Crochemore, seu primeiro parceiro musical. Juntos fizeram mais de 10 canções em inglês, uma delas – “Your time is over”- faz parte do seu disco de estréia como cantora solo “Quarto 47”.

Em 2001 começou a ter aulas de canto com o preparador vocal Felipe Abreu, que disse sobre a cantora: “Helena Cutter, tão jovem, já tem o que muitas cantoras levam anos para conseguir: um timbre. Uma voz de seda e metal escuro, que nos envolve em luz e sombra, calor e frio, um sol da meia-noite”.

Apaixonada por Beatles, em 2002 formou sua primeira banda, Acid Beatles, onde faziam releituras bem ousadas do Fab Four, acid jazz com direito a scratches do DJ Fábio Machado.  No mesmo ano Helena se apresentou no Sesc Tijuca com o espetáculo “Na trilha das paixões”, composto de canções românticas de filmes nacionais, dirigido por Gilberto Gawronski com preparação vocal de Felipe Abreu.

No ano seguinte, ao lado dos músicos André Valle, Kim Pereira e Ciro Cruz, a banda Acid Beatles decide partir para um trabalho autoral, formando a banda Acid X. Após gravar o cd “Uma Geral”, conquistou o terceiro lugar no Festival Aroma do Campo de Música Brasileira na categoria música original com a canção “Uma Geral”, de autoria de Helena Cutter e André Valle. As canções “Na Estrada”, “Uma Geral” e “Dicionário” entraram em 5 coletâneas: “Bossa a la mode”, “Le pop for afternoon tea” e “Le pop for party” (Japão), “Nu Brasil 2”  (Inglaterra) e “Elas” (Brasil).  No mesmo ano, Helena entra para a faculdade de cinema, impulsionada pela sua paixão por escrever. Roteirizou, dirigiu e fez a trilha sonora de dois curtas-metragens: “Na Bainha da Vida” e “Sapatos Brancos”.

Em 2005 e 2006 Helena fez parte do Espetáculo Musical “Missa dos Quilombos” de Milton Nascimento, Pedro Tierra e Pedro Casaldália, com direção de Luiz Fernando Lobo, da Companhia Ensaio Aberto, em uma turnê por Minas Gerais, Brasília e São Paulo.

Em 2007 participou do projeto “Brazuka Fina-Samba Eletrônico”,  com canções nas coletâneas: “Rio de Janeiro: The Finest World Beats” (Portugal), “Jazzilia-Cool Brazilian Jazz beats”- (USA), “Brazil​- Sambossica 2” (USA) e Nuth Lounge (Brasil/USA). No ano seguinte, Helena entra para banda Rio Sound Machine onde fez shows até 2009.

Em 2010, Helena Cutter decide gravar seu primeiro trabalho solo de forma independente – “Quarto 47” – produzido pelo guitarrista e produtor musical Alexandre Vaz, assinando 8 faixas em parcerias com Alexandre Vaz, Jorge Ailton, Keko Calazans e Tomaz Crochemore. O disco tem 10 canções inéditas, sendo duas de autoria de Jorge Ailton – “Agora” e “Não necessariamente nessa ordem”- onde Jorge faz uma participação especial. O disco conta também com a participação super especial da cantora Thalma de Freitas em “Valsinha n° 3” ao lado de Helena e Vaz.

VANESSA PINHEIRO
www.vanessapinheiro.com
(As Featured on I Love Bossa Nova)

"Velvet Voice wrist copyright. A singers emission is irresistible. " This is how the reporter Tarik de Souza defines Vanessa Pinheiro. Pará, founded in Rio de Janeiro, via Curitiba, Vanessa arrived 12 years ago in the federal capital. In Brasilia, she majored in journalism and writing, and studied singing at the Music School of Brasília. In 2004, she released her first CD & received rave reviews and earned her invitations to tour in Portugal, Spain and France. In 2005, Vanessa made ​​a number of shows in Portugal and the Portuguese press was considered as a revelation of Brazilian music. Now, Vanessa released her second CD, Balcony, produced by Arthur Maia, who has the participation of great musicians including Romero Lubambo, Carlos Malta, Kiko Continentino, Lui Coimbra, Gabriel Grossi and many others. In her two albums, she shows her own compositions, which sail between modernity and post-bossa nova MPB current balance, and is competent readings of classic MPB. To the maestro Leonardo Bruno, Vanessa brings a new way of writing: refined, cultured, of exquisite taste and a strong popular appeal. All simple, but not commonplace, music or poetry. Vanessa Pinheiro has been building a solid career as a singer and songwriter and recently by Nelson Motta was considered as one of the best revelations emerged on the plateau, an artist who makes a quality MPB.  Vanessa has had some of her songs included in compilations released in the United States and Japan including the "I love Bossa Nova," in which Vanessa sings "Vidigal" (Vanessa Pinheiro / Mario Jovita), the World Music Central blog wrote "Some of the best cuts in the album are the exquisite" Vidigal "which includes the gorgeous voice of Vanessa Pinheiro." With the recognition of the public and press, Vanessa Pinheiro has led to Brazil and the world, the best music Brazilian. 

JENNY CHI & CHI BOSSA
www.jennychi.ch/
(As Featured on I Love Bossa Nova)

In the Rio de Janeiro of the early sixties, a group of bourgeois musicians collaborating with João Gilberto and Tom Jobim created a novel, distinctive sound. The soft velvety voice of Jenny Chi and the ChiBossa group recreates Bossa Nova’s sensual longing and soft melancholy, enchanting heart and soul.

Already at a young age, the Swiss-Chinese singer Jenny Chi devoted herself to Brazilian music. She went to live in Brazil, took music lessons and performed in concerts. 1999 she launched her own Bossa Nova Quartet: "Jenny Chi & ChiBossa".

The Swiss Singer was singing the Lead in various Brazil- und Jazzbands. Since the age of seven she took piano lessons and sang in the childrens choir. Later on she educated herself in classical singing, Jazz vocal and percussion in Switzerland and Brazil.

TURMA DA BOSSA
www.myspace.com/turmadabossa
(As Featured on I Love Bossa Nova)

A new look, a new way of listening and a touch of modernity, Turma da Bossa after nine years of evolving, has become the new reference for bossa nova in Brazil. A bridge between the past and the future. After performing more than 600 shows, having released two CD's and even sharing the stage with the big bossa nova masters like Roberto Menescal, Turma da Bossa is now preparing to fly higher. Each year that passes, the Brazilian music occupies a bigger space in the world. In several countries bossa nova is the basis for the creation of new rhythms and tendencies. Turma da Bossa is an example of one of these new creations. The shows are full of vibration, with the influence of the classics, yet still taking into consideration the new, such as the cool samba "Ambar", composed by Gustavo Rocha and Julio Carvana.

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. 

DJ SHANTISAN
www.saltedsoul.at
(As Featured on Brazil:Sambossica 1)

Grown up and socialized in a small place in Lower Austria, Herbert Bachhofer, better known as Shantisan, got in touch with the Black Music Culture very early. Influenced by friends and family he irresistibly had to start collecting records. A wide selection of hip-hop and downbeat records eventually led him to collecting Soul, Afro, Jazz, Bossa Nova and especially Brazilian records. Having all those fine records at home he felt the drive to play them in front of a dancing audience. 

After several Dj-sets, the foundation of his own musical platform was the next important step for Shantisan in order to get his own thing together: Salted Soul a non-purist Afro Grooves, Brazilian Rhythms, Downbeat, House and Drum n Bass mix was born as a label and as a kind of trade mark for his parties which are now taking place in several locations all over Austria, reaching Brazil, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Slovakia and Greece. 

Until now Shantisan has done several Remixes as well as Re-Edits, including the well known "Oba La Vem Ela"-Re-Rub, released on Jazz Rec. in 2005 or the musical production for the project "Deploy" which features Austrian bass player Jojo Lackner as well as singer Lilith who has worked in several collaborations, for example with Parov Stelar. Deploy was released on Salted Soul Records in 2007. Recent works were the collaboration 'S.O.S.' together with the Austrian producer/ Dj Stefan Obermaier which was released on Sol*Selectas in New York, a remix for the German producer/ Dj Quincy Jointz (Geriba), a remix for Timewarp Inc., a remix for Basement Freaks, a remix for the Austrian Nu-Funk Legend Ed Royal, Brazil‘s Dj Soneca aka Trotter or another remix for Just Banks, Dj Farrapo, Roland Schwarz, Danny Massure, jazz.K.lipa, as well as Empresarios from the Fort Knox label! 

At the moment Shantisan is also working in a collaboration with Etage Noir's Roland Schwarz- An excerpt of this work can be heard on the excellent Jockey tunes E.P. 1 that was released on Galopp Records! 

Shantisan's true musical passion is Brazilian music which is definitely shown in his work with Brazilian singer Micheline Cardoso. His track „Favela Funk“ feat. Micheline Cardoso & Stefan Obermaier was released on Innvison Records. 

Shantisan‘s Brazilian Bossa & Drum'n'Bass fusion "Bring Back The Bossa Rock" was released in November 2008 on Resense Records. This record was number 1 seller at the Juno Broken Beat Charts in England for 2 weeks, his successor track "Aquela E Minha Menina" also reached 1 on Juno's Breakbeat charts on August 24, 2009!!!! 

Hopefully you can catch one of those legendary Salted Soul parties - keep in mind: "It's Salted Soul Baby!" 

KATIA ROCHA
www.katiarocha.com.br
(As Featured on Brazil:Sambossica 2)

Katia Rocha is a Brazilian Instrumentalist, composer and interpret, and has been on the road more then 10 years in crafting her music ability. A peaceful woman born under the sign of Taurus, but at the same time a stage energetic swinging musician, Katia has always has a very eclectic taste for music. Some of her influences include Billie Holiday, Milton Nascimento and Jethro Tull. She started her studies on transversal flutein college before picking up her things and moving to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. During this time she also studied Singing, Saxophone, acoustic guitar and musical harmony. 

Her history with the Sax has began years ago when her father gave her a saxophone. Soon after she felt it was awkward and sold it. Later the without realizing it, the Saxophone would become her musical instrument of choice and the beginning of her career. In the 80's she played in various bands throughout Brazil and released her first album in 1992. In 1996, she decided to part ways with her band and go solo and release a new album titled - Katia Rocha. The album would feature a wide variety of composers and producers including: Leandro Braga, plus participants from Ze Renato and Elisa Lucinda. The song Espirito Santino was written about the beauties of her homeland, and has become one of the dearest of songs for the hometowners. 

To get the full Bio and history on this amazing talent, please visit her website at http://www.katiarocha.com.br/