LIVIA LUCAS
www.myspace.com/livialucas
(As Featured on I Love Bossa Nova)

Lívia Lucas (Nêga Lucas), who at present is 29 years old, has been tracing a notorious musical trajectory in Brazil. She has played not only in festivals and several musical events but also performed as the opening live act at the internationally well-known Tiradentes Film Festival, which takes place in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. 

Lívia, who is a native from Juiz de Fora Brazil, started her career at the age of 13 when she became a member of a church chorus in her hometown. During this time she was able to improve her knowledge of voice techniques. Later by the age of 19, she started singing in a local band and she also developed her first music project as a trio, with a violinist and a bassist. Her trio played a varied repertoire of MPB (Musica Popular Brasileira) and they attracted a wide audience to their performaces. 

In March 2006, she was honoured for her contribution to the local culture by the city hall of Juiz de Fora. Also in 2006, Lívia started a new project to save Sambas De Raíz (Root Samba), Choro and also other types of Samba that originate from this style, from being forgotten.

One year after having launched her project Música Mulata Brasileira, Lívia celebrated its success with a non-profit show in the MAM (Museum of Modern Art Murilo Mandes). She took part in an event called Central do Samba at the Cine Teatro Central in Juiz de Fora. This place is well recognized not only in Minas Gerais but also throughout Brazil for its cultural history. Starting in the year 2007, Lívia Lucas has been touring throughout Europe.

At the same time she developed several projects in varied areas such as: Afro Music, Samba, MPB, socio-cultural projects, among others. Finally, in 2008, Lívia produced and recorded her first album called Canto de Casa in Rio de Janeiro together with Gabriel Improta and Henrique Band.

Since then she has been promoting this album at well known places in Barcelona (Castelo do Montjuic, Jazz Bel Luna), Paris (Favela Chic, Divan Du Monde, Belleviloise) and at music festivals in Southern France. At this point in time she is concentrating on presenting Canto de Casa in Brazil, starting off with a series of shows in Rio de Janeiro and MinasGerais states since January 2010.

Her band is made up of top line artists:
Rodrigo Lessa (guitar and mandolin)
Rodrigo Villa (bass)
Cassius Theperson (drums)
Wili Noya (trombone)
Walmer Carvalho (saxophone and flute)

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.

MARCELO VITAL & BRAZIL VITAL RADIO : (Toronto, Canada)
www.BrazilVital.com
www.OiToronto.com (featured artcile)

After almost a year being broadcast on FM radio in Toronto, the program has reinvented itself to accommodate more content and expand its growing audience. The weekly show will continue in Portuguese and English, the most recent shows can be heard directly in BrazilVital.

As part of its new format, is joining forces with BrazilVital OiToronto, the largest source of news and information for Brazilians in Canada. This partnership will increase the visibility of BrazilVital through the thousands of visitors who click on OiToronto each month.

"It has everything to do with OiToronto," says Fernanda Thiesen, editor in chief of OiToronto. "The popularity of the Internet and social media is attracting more and more Brazilian community to our website and we are also happy to offer the Vital Brazil to them."

The new site will feature Brazilian music news, interviews with local and international artists, reviews, videos, news, calendar of events of Brazilian music in Toronto and of course lots of music!

The journalist Marcelo Vital will continue producing and presenting the program with the goal of bringing the best of Brazilian music of yesterday, today and always to the four corners of the world and to highlight local talent of the Brazilian community in Toronto.

"One comment I hear a lot of listeners is that they appreciate the convenience of listening to the program when they want. And by BrazilVital they can - any time, "says Marcelo.

The program has become a conduit of information about Brazilian music and culture and offers a weekly list of events related to Brazilian music happening in the city of Toronto.Through social media platforms integrated into the new site, will be even easier to read and hear the latest news about Brazilian music in Brazil and worldwide.

In its first year, the program has featured several guests - some Brazilian artists in Canada, other acclaimed abroad - names such as Daniela Mercury, Luisa Maita, Luanda Jones, Maria Farinha, Fernanda Cunha, Guiomar Campbell, DJ Seduce Afrobaile seal, DJ Ziko, tuning and other Carioca. And the guest list will increase in 2012!

The first program of the new series will be a special New Year edition, which airs on the first day of January 2012, bringing also a retrospective of the 2011 programs and headlines of Brazilian music in 2011. To listen to the program, simply click BrazilVital .

As Scene and Written on Oi Toronto:
http://www.oitoronto.ca/19733/programa-de-radio-brazilvital-passa-a-ser-online/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+OiToronto+%28OiToronto%21%29&utm_content=FaceBook 

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. 

BEL MAIA
www.myspace.com/belmaiavoz
(As Featured on I Love Bossa Nova)

The new Brazilian music. BEL MAIA is a singer and composer with something to say. Musicality is a term synonymous with BEL MAIA. For years she has worked and lived in a highly musical environment where she has picked up influences not only from her native region, the interior of Brazil, but also from African music, jazz, and world music. All of these influences elevate her work to a different plane through her always engaging choice of instruments, repertoire, and her sophisticated arrangements. Above all, BEL MAIA’s work is highly personal. Despite its variety of cultural manifestations, BEL MAIA never fails to reveal a unique personality that is clearly her own. On her recently released 2nd CD entitled Novo Dia [New Day] Bel continues to mix MPB [Brazilian Popular Music] with regional rhythms and diverse sounds. Lyrically, the CD presents poetic images from daily life that reveal an optimistic, humanistic message. Musically, in this work BEL MAIA shows a new phase to her musical development with a greater variety of sounds and harmonic sophistication The CD features an A-list of instrumentalists as well including Márcio Bahia (drummer for Hermeto Paschoal), Kiko Continentino (pianist for Milton Nascimento), Marcelo Martins (saxophonist for Djavan), William Magalhães (Keyboardist for Marina Lima, Banda Black Rio) as well as musicians from her band: Marcelo Maia, Fred Valle, Luiz Chaffin, Edílson Moraes, and Ney Quiñonero. Novo Dia is a CD poised for great commercial success. The sales of her last CD, Rumo Certo, extended far beyond the confines of Brazil into countries such as Japan, Germany, and the United States. Songs from Rumo Certo received airplay in such diverse markets as Sydney, Australia; Brasília; and Rio de Janeiro. With Novo Dia Bel is determined to expand on these successes, providing audiences with a dynamic live show featuring her own material as well classics from Brazil’s rich musical traditions.

DANIELA REZENDE
www.myspace.com/danielarezende
(As Featured on I Love Bossa Nova)

Master in Music by the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), singer and songwriter, Daniela Rezende presented in September of 2010, the dissertation theses “The Voice and the Choro - Vocal Technique Aspects and The Sung Choro Repertoire as a tool to study Brazilian Jazz” under the guidance of Professor Dr Mirna Rubim. Born in Ribeirão Preto (SP), at age 17 Daniela lived in Arizona - U.S. where she participated intensely in the musical activities at the Red Mountain High School during the academic year 1996/1997. She completed her undergraduate diploma in Popular Music Studies at the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in 2002 and after that she moved to São Paulo city to further her musical studies and to work as a professional musician. Between 2003 and 2007 she presented several musical performances in SESCs and other cultural centers; she also taught vocal lessons, music theory and music to children for the City Hall of São Paulo. In 2006, she debuted at an international career as a singer and guitarist resident of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Bangkok (Thailand), where she held two seasons, presenting a repertoire of bossa nova and jazz. In 2008 Daniela moved to Rio de Janeiro to pursue her master's degree in performance and at the same time she recorded her first album (SMD) “Sadness well dressed”, with the five original compositions also present in this page. Today Daniela lives in Toulouse and gradually she has been finding space for her music in France.

SIMONE PELISSARI
www.simonepelissari.com
(As Featured on I Love Bossa Nova)

The Music of: Simone Pelissari If there is a fragment of memory that lingers the most – It's the "voice". In time, faces and faces wear off, often, - if not always – Leaving you to put a voice on the faceless. Should a certain voice you..ve grown to be fond of find it's way framed in a melody that union will surely become a "forever part" of you circumstances and situations aside, the song will stay and change wherever you may find yourself… wherever life takes you. It's not by accident or by any slight relation that we find ourselves attached to the music of Simone Pelissari, after all the sound the bears is a very natural progression – if you've ever been captivated and charmed by the melodies of Joyce. A Nightingale at night and a Lark by day – what floats out of her lips can very well be sung and exhaled murmurs of the heart. The pretty songstress with a beaming smile lists – among her influences and favorites – some of the most burningly intense Brasilian artists known: Elis Regina, Gal Costa, Milton Nascimento and a consummate, more contemporary vocalist – Luciana Souza, whose gripping and incandescent style gave her some mainstream notice and US and Europe. The coolness and relaxed aire of her delivery can be traced to her love of Ella Fitzgerald, and the more somber but equally loose flair of the just passed away Shirley Horn. All together Simone's pallete is a scintilliating mix of the best from ther native Brasil and just the right accents from the improvised, North American blend.