Last night, Brazilian singer Maria Rita won the Latin Grammy awards for Best New Artist and Best MPB album. I heard an interview with her on NPR yesterday morning, and some of the samples they played were pretty nice, so picked up her CD.
I’ve gone through it twice, and there are some really nice moments on this CD. Rita’s voice sounds a bit like Marisa Monte’s, although a little lighter and sweeter. She does sound a lot like her mother, the legendary Elis Regina. The arrangements are very simple– few guitars, keyboards, and percussion. My favorite songs on the album so far are “A Festa [Party]” and “Agora So Falta Voce.”
This album, as I mentioned, is very simply done, and doesn’t have the multiple layers or quirkiness of my favorite album of 2003, Tribalistas.
I’ll write more after I’ve given it a few more listens.