Tanya Maria - Review of 'Tanya Maria The Beat of Brazil'

Brazil's Tanya Maria is a remarkable jazz pianist /singer and on this DVD she is joined by Brazilian guitarist Laurindo Almeida. The two artists, though both Brazilian, are very different types of artists and the interspersing of music seemed a little disorienting. The biggest problem is that the TV format offers only 2 20 minute sets by the artists; while the music deserves a higher rating the DVD is a little disappointing.

Tanya Maria has been a force in Brazilian jazz for over 3 decades. The pianist and songstress from Northern Brazil has recorded over 20 albums and spent years on the jazz festival circuit.

Laurindo Almeida was a classical Spanish guitarist, an icon in the genre although certainly jazz was part of his repertoire; one of his 5 Grammy awards was for Brazilian jazz. Almeida died in 1995 so it’s a pleasure to see his live performance preserved.

The two programs include Maria performing favorites like “It’s Not For Me To say,” “Ven Pra Roda” and “Chiclete Com Banana.” She’s a pleasure to watch as her elastic voice scats its way through the tunes accompanied by virtuosity on the piano that reminds you that the piano is surely a percussion instrument. Tanya Maria feels her jazz, not just with her voice and fingers, but with her entire body and matching facial expressions – something you just wouldn’t get in a sound recording.

Almeida’s numbers include some bossa nova but he really shines with the few classical numbers he performs including Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.”

The DVD presents 2 nice programs. For fervent fans these performances might well be worth making part of a collection. For the more casual listener, a concert format (such as Tanya Maria playing at the Montreux Jazz Festival) would probably be more satisfying.