User:Mauricio Pessoa/sandbox

Rio de Janeiro native Mauricio Pessoa (April 10th 1978) is a singer-songwriter emanating from the current crop of young Brazilian music artists. A cool generation of global-minded new talents that are keeping the great Brazilian musical tradition alive and well. Mauricio’s original compositions are influenced by the classic Bossa Nova and MPB (Música Popular Brasileira) music of composers such as Antonio Carlos Jobim, Chico Buarque, João Gilberto, Paulinho da Viola and other Brazilian greats.

In 2007, Pessoa records and releases his self-titled debut album produced by Rodrigo Campello on Universal Music Brasil. The album comprised of 11 original songs was very well received by the public and acclaimed by the press as ‘’a successful start for a Carioca artist featuring brilliantly composed music” (Mauro Ferreira, critic, ‘O Dia’ newspaper).

On the 19th of June 2012 Pessoa releases worldwide his sophomore album entitled ‘Habitat’ (RED/Sony) produced in New York by arranger and reeds player Zé Luis Oliveira and producer/A&R Béco Dranoff. The album is the materialization of Pessoa’s long-standing dream to record an album in the US, the and where Bossa Nova and Brazilian music first got worldwide attention.

Recorded at Spin Recording Studios in New York, HABITAT is centered on a concept, sonic palette and repertoire that was meticulously discussed and planned by Mauricio and producers, Zé Luis and Béco. The trio decided that the direction was to go ‘old school’ recording all the musicians at once live in the studio. Culling material from Pessoa’s wealth of original material, the band was assembled for a marathon of rehearsals and arranging sessions at Zé Luis’ studio at the Music Building.

The band includes Mauricio Pessoa (classical guitar and vocal), Zé Luis Oliveira (wood winds and arrangements), Simone Giuliani (piano), Jim Robertson (double bass) and Kenny Grohowsky (drums). The string quartet is Antoine Silverman (violin), Jonathan Dinklage (violin), Todd Low (viola) and Anja Wood (cello). Other musicians included are Darcy (trombone) and Zé Maurício (percussion).

The ten songs on HABITAT reflect the Brazilian landscape drawing inspiration from Pessoa’s experiences travelling back and forth to Brazil. Mainly influenced by Bossa Nova, Samba and Jazz, the CD consists of a transcontinental trip through diverse rhythms, sounds and themes.