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MARIA RITA LIVE: A HIGH- ENERGY SAMBA FEST & HIT SONG SAMPLE

RBSProds | Deep in the heart of Texas | 10/02/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Five BIG Stars!! Maria Rita is the award-winning young jazz and Brazilian Popular Music (MPB) diva, who carries the vocal and musical DNA of her mother, the late great Elis Regina, but quickly established her own vocal persona. Her debut CD Maria Rita stole the show at the 2004 Latin Grammys with multiple awards and she rips a few songs from that CD, as well as from the Segundo (Second) and Samba Meu (Samba Mine) CDs. This DVD shows she is in incredible shape, has a few new tattoos, and, having given up singing barefoot, now dances all over the stage in stylish heels and eye-popping dresses beyond her norm. For one who was thought to be the non-musical one of Elis' 3 children and who never sang a note in public until age 24, she returned from NYU graduation and a non-musical career in New York City to literally burst on the São Paulo, Brazil music scene blossoming into a true international star with an awe-inspiring repertoire that is deep and varied. (Milton Nascimento was rumored to have called her in New York saying ~"I don't know what you're waiting for, {you should begin singing}"~). She is backed up by an excellent group of cohesive musicians with a lot of rhythmic drive, some from her previous recordings: like bassist Silvio Mazzucca.

From gentle 'samba-canção' to thundering 'samba-school' batucadas to jazzy MPB, she puts on a singing-dancing virtuoso display of these great Brazilian musical forms, punctuated throughout by the unique sound of the 'cuica'. She sings a 20 song love-fest to a huge mosh pit that is so knowledgeable it sings the entire show with her. The 'best of the best' includes the incredibly beauty of "Trajectoria", the mega-hits "Cara Valente" (Brave Guy) and "A Festa" (The Party), "Corpitcho" ('Fine' Body), the Latin Grammy-winning "Caminho das Aguas" (Path of Waters), "Contra Otra" (aka Tell Me Another Story), and she nods to musical godfather Milton Nascimento on "Encontros e Despedidas" (Meetings and Farewells) and then nods to her namesake rock queen Rita Lee's song about the iconic lady "Pagu". Again, there are no Elis songs, a sign of great respect for her mother's legacy. All sung in emotionally vibrant Brazilian Portuguese, occasional English subtitles for some conversation in the 'extras', great cinematography. Bravo, Maria Rita!! My Highest Recommendation. Five ENJOYABLE Stars!!

(DVD-9 (region-free), 93 minutes, NTSC with Dolby Digital 2.0, 5.1, and DTS Surround. Extras: "making of" video, and two musical videos. One fleeting verbal "oops" in the first extra. It's high time for Warner Music Latina to give complete subtitled multi-language translations of songs and conversation (English & Spanish as a minimum) , as many other labels are doing on DVDs and liner notes. This would help expand her international fan base. Otherwise, this DVD is outstanding!)"

Excelente!!

Solita | Zulia, Ven. | 05/01/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Great Music, Great Voice and personality. All the details for the show were carefully plan and you can enjoy every second."

Sexy star, generic band, horrible editing

Father Lipps | Brighton, MA | 11/11/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"After the sheer magic of the Segundo studio album and "ao vivo" DVD, this DVD is a letdown. (How could it not be??)

The magic of Maria Rita to this point has grown out of her close relationships with her band, producer, and the songwriters who helped make "Segundo" a true modern classic. On this DVD, half of the band is missing (only S. Mazzucca remains on bass), and the larger band makes for a more varied sound, but a sound that, while staying true to samba roots, draws focus away from MR's vocals and vibe. As a result, Maria works harder on belting 'em out, on dancing, on captivating the room. Which she sure DOES--vavoom, get a load of that dress at the end!!--but at a cost of coming across as Just Another Brazilian Diva...

And also -- THE EDITING SUCKS on this DVD!!! It would've been nice to linger on the beauty of Maria, but sorry: the editor must have OCD because no clip lasts longer then 2 seconds; plus, what's with all the cuts to parts of Maria's body? It felt like she was being disembodied, fetishized by the edotir, rather than celebrated as a solid-gold singing star. Ugh....but boy, she looks hot in that dress!!

Please Maria, get back with Tiago/Cuca/Sylvinho/Lenine and keep building on the amazing achievement of "Segundo"! Get back to the intimacy and soul that makes you and your magic voice so compelling."