Tania Maria

by Deni Kasrel

Tania Maria left her native Brazil back in the '60s but clearly that was only in the corporeal context. Her sassy songs are often steeped in samba, bossa nova or choro rhythms, though she'll also dive into jazz, funk or even a little hip-hop if the mood strikes her. On her recent disc Intimidade (Blue Note), the pianist-vocalist is very much in a Brazil state of mind, singing — exclusively in Portuguese — tunes that are ideal for listening to while walking barefoot on the beach (as she does on the CD cover). Maria is capable of tearing up the keyboards, and you can count on it during a live show, but on this recording she generally keeps things simple. As usual, her rhythms are built on tight syncopations, yet her spry fingerings carry a playful tone. Meanwhile, her earthy voice sparkles with assured ease.