Rosa Por Rosa
(2005)

Amorosa
(2004)

It's become increasingly difficult to find a Brazilian bossa nova singer not interested in electronic production values. For those yearning to hear bossa nova music played acoustically, singer Rosa Passos is the answer. Her pitch perfect voice is almost girlish and coy, but her supple phrasing shows her to be a true veteran. Her star's been on the rise since her impressive contributions to Yo-Yo Ma's Obrigado Brazil (Ma guests here as well), and now she's landed on Sony Classical for her major label debut. A tip of the hat to Joao Gilberto's classic Amoroso features four bossa nova classics from that album, two more Antonio Carlos Jobim compositions and six others. The small-group arrangements are often restrained but jazzy (channeling a little Stan Getz), while the orchestral format for three tunes is a velvety a nod to Claus Ogerman's lush arrangements of many bossa nova classics. This is an instant classic from one of the music's finest interpreters. –-Tad Hendrickson
 

Brazilian Music

Entre Amigos
Rosa Passos and Ron Carter (2003)

Rosa Passos is the best! I've never heard a more sensual voice. Her "Insensatez" is marvellous, I am surprised at how she LIVES every line and every word of it. For me it's the best rendition of my best-loved Jobim song. The first time I heard "Insensatez" sung by Italian singer Mina, she was also stunning, she made it cold like ice, like wind in the mountains, like the moment when there are no more tears to cry... but Rosa's "Insensatez" is full of love and even of secret hope. Bahia com H is breezy and swinging, the other highlights are the last three songs, especially Vinicius de Moraes' famous sonnet "Eu Sei que Vou te Amar." Before I heard Rosa I never could have imagined that such effortless vocals could reach a degree of dramatism close to Maria Bethania's. Bethania breaks your heart with her force, and Rosa does it with her whisper. To do justice to Ron Carter and other musicians, their arrangement is the best frame for the diamond that is Rosa's voice. Especially I loved the saxophone solo in "Desafinado." --an Amazon reviewer
 

Eu E Meu Coracao
(2003)

Azul
(2002)

It's amazing how someone so talented could go unknown for so long. Rosa Passos  has the rare vocal quality to put so much emotion in every word she sings. The material present in this disc goes from haunting ballad to swinging big band treatments. In her ballads you can hear the influence of Billy & Sarah, singing of loss and pain in a way so beautiful it makes you cry. The larger orchestrations remind you of the days when all live musicians in a band could raise the hairs on the back of your neck. With so much going on Rosa never gets lost, and that sweet,clear voice comes through to hold you in its embrace. More than just a bossa nova artist Rosa proves she can sing everything from jazz to blues to bossa nova. --an Amazon reviewer
 

Festa
(2002)
 

Letra E Musica -- Ary Barroso
Ary Barroso standards performed by
Rosa Passos and Lula Galvao (2002)
More Ary Barroso

The Best of Rosa Passos
(2000)

With a distinctive voice so airy and gentle that a whisper seems like a clap of thunder in comparison, Rosa Passos epitomizes Brazilian bossa nova and samba. Her multidecade career gets the retrospective it deserves in this newly remastered collection of some of her most influential performances, including Passos's marvelous collaboration with the songwriter Chico Buarque on the sardonic love song "Com Acucar, com Afeto." The second duet on this disc pairs Passos with co-composer Ivan Lins on "Abajur Lilas," which also showcases Marco Brita's evocative piano, the crooning soprano sax of Sergio Galvao, and jazzy musical direction by Lula Galvao. The accordion-sweetened "Juras" shows off Passos's talent as an arranger with a special touch for combining almost palpable textures. Famous in her country since her 1972 debut, Passos remained one of Brazil's best-kept secrets until the international success of 1991's recently rereleased Curare, an homage to the rich heritage of Brazilian music. --Bob Tarte

Morada Do Samba
(1999)
 

Rosa Canta Caymmi
(2000)

2000 Release from Rosa Passos, One of the Most Famous Brazilian Contemporary Bossa- Nova Singers. This Album is a Tribute to the Master Composer from Bahia, Dorival Caymmi.

Rosa Passos Canta Antonio Carlos Jobim
(2002)

2002 Tribute Album to Jobim by One of the Few Singers Currently in Brazil Dedicated to a Genuine Evolution of Brazilian Music. Passos' Perfect Pitch Capability is Acknowledged by Many Artists Such as Joao Gilberto, Maria Schneider, Clare Fisher, Paquito D'rivera, Johnny Alf and Nana Caymmi (Who Recorded Two of her Compositions). Her Main Influences were Dorival Caymmi and Joao Gilberto as Well as Jazz Greats Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Etta James, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Shirley Horn (Who Has Declared to Be her Fan), Cole Porter, and George Gershwin. --an Amazon reviewer

Rosa is also featured in:

Obrigado Brazil Live in Concert
Yo-Yo Ma with Sergio and Odair Assad, Cyro Baptista,
Rosa Passos, Nilson Matta, Paquito D'Rivera, Kathryn Scott
(2004)

Yo-Yo Ma
Obrigado Brazil
(2003)
 

Also See:
Brazilian Music Index: Artists & Styles

Brazil DVDs/Videos

Brazil Books