Ithamara Koorax

Rio Vermelho

Brazilian Music

Love Dance: The Ballad Album
(2003)

What a great surprise! I just purchased LOVE DANCE and I am completely in love this album. Listening to the songs while reading the Ira Gitler text in the CD booklet, I felt deeply moved by Koorax's performances. It's intrusctive to note that this brilliant NY-based Brazilian singer was acclaimed as one of the world's Top 4 jazz singers in Down Beat's 67th Annual Readers Poll, in December 2002. I agree with Mr. Gitler, probably the most important jazz critic alive, when he writes: "Koorax is her own woman. She is multi-faceted and multi-lingual, comfortable in all situations and expressive in a variety of languages. Her range and technique are remarkable but you don't necessarily take time out to marvel at her technique until later on because you are too absorbed in her musical message". --an Amazon reviewer
 

Serenade In Blue
(2000)

Sumptuous arrangements and outstanding performances by Deodato, Azymuth, Marcos Valle, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Jay Berliner, Kevin Jasper, Dom Um Romao, Nelson Angelo and countless other Brazilian greats. This woman deserves to receive international recognition, specially in USA, where Down Beat readers already voted her one of the top jazz singers in 2000. Forget about Jane Monheit or Norah Jones. Koorax is the best. --an Amazon reviewer

It's a superb album, and Ithamara sounds wonderful. With her smart, mostly medium-tempo CD, she shows her class: the flexible, warm, four-octave voice fascinates the listener in each track. She finds new ways of doing classic jazz songs, making each one come alive again with a most efervescent style and approach. Ithamara may come to the edge, but never goes over. Rio's sensuous, caressing influence asserts itself. The opening track, "Bonita", is charming and elegant. My favorite jazz-oriented Brazilian singer ever! --an Amazon reviewer

Rio Vermelho
(1999)

After several years looking for a second-hand copy of the original longtime out-of-print issue, I have finally got this new 24-bit digitally remastered reissue. The best Christmas gift I could have dreamed of! Brazilian jazz diva Ithamara Koorax sings a supreme set of haunting ballads like "Cry Me A River", and Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Retrato Em Branco E Preto" aka "Zingaro". Jobim himself appears as special guest on another of his gorgeous tunes, "E Preciso Dizer Adeus", his last recording session in October 1994. For those who are familiar only with Koorax's recent USA releases, this pre-Milestone masterpiece is an essential item for any serious jazz enthusiast. --an Amazon reviewer

Also See:

Artists, A - E   Artists, F - N

Artists, O - S   Artists, T - Z

Brazilian Jazz

Brazilian Divas

Brazilian Music Index: Artists & Styles
 

The Brazilian Sound (U.S.)
Brazilian Sound (Canada)
Brazilian Sound (U.K.)
Brazilian Sound (Japan)
Brazilian Sound (Germany)
Le Son Du Brésil (France)