Fora De Orbita [Import]

Maria Rita, Rita Maria | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 4, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Tratore Music Brasil
• ASIN: B0009X4TX2
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #597,194 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AN ENCHANTING, WONDERFUL INTERNATIONAL DEBUT by RITA MARIA (BRANDAO), November 15, 2005

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RBSProds "rbsprods" (Deep in the heart of Texas) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Fora De Orbita (Audio CD)

Five BIG Stars!! A stunning collection of beautiful and unusual MPB songs! Rita Maria (Brandao)'s debut CD is wonderful. She has enchanted both critics and fans for years inside Brasil; now it's our turn. Singing in beautiful Portuguese, and, on one song, alternating with English, she has a beautiful, distinctive, and memorable soprano voice. But, buyer beware, this is not Elis Regina's awesome singing daughter, Maria Rita Mariano; this is a different musical force, Rita Maria, who uses more traditional Brazilian music forms for her singing and songwriting. (See my NOTE below).

Rita Maria wrote all of the songs on the CD except two, one of which is the expected song from the "feminine universe" of the great Chico Buarque. Her accompanists include a wonderful guitar trio: the amazing Zeca Loureiro on acoustic guitar, Gilberto Assis on bass, and Sergio Reze on drums and percussion. Her performances are truly enchanting and unlike anyone else I hear singing in Brasil these days. It's interesting how the rhythmic palette of each song is so distinctive, even down to the selection of different rhythm instruments that propel each song. And the bass plays it's own critical role throughout providing a great springboard for the rest of the ensemble.

The best of the best, 'Pieces De Resistance', begin with the title track, "Fora de Orbita" (Out of Orbit). Instead of introducing herself to the international music world on the first track of the CD with something like a soft samba, Rita Maria daringly uses up-tempo north-eastern Brazil 'xaxado' music for the title track, "Fora de Obita", as she soars above the beat and bends notes around the stunning guitar lines. This wonderful horn-like 'note bending' characteristic is judiciously exhibited throughout the CD. Other exceptional performances include the uptempo 'xote', "Pe Calejado" (Calloused Foot); the sonic mood shifts of "O Mar Que Existe Em Seus Olhos" (The Sea That Exists In Their Eyes); "Alma" (Soul) is an elegant, beautiful jazzy duet of Rita's multitracked wordless voice and bass; speaking of jazz, check out Zeca Loureiro's guitar solo on the enchanting "Borboleta Preta" (Black Butterfly) which is neatly sung in alternating English and Portuguese phrases by Rita Maria.

"Maca Do Rosto" takes us back to the 'xaxado' beat and swings fiercely with Rita's wild vocal bridge that almost sounds mandarin chinese and grows on one with repeated listenings. Track 10, "Despertar" (To Awaken), brings us to the first of three lovely sambas on the CD and it's really great. Pure beauty is on display in the duet "Gotas De Sereno" and RM's stunning solo of "Estrada De Nevoa". Chico Buarque's "Nego Maluco" is given a nifty samba-4/4 beat treatment. But my favorite has to be the mesmerizing "Pedra Rara" (Rare Stone) with it's wonderful descending musical figure and the intense octave jump on the other side of the guitar break. All in all, a great debut that leaves one wanting more and it is highly recommended. Rita Maria is a passionate, riveting singer and I look forward to more of her singing and songwriting in the future. It's in Portuguese but this music transcends language with it's power and intensity. Five Big Stars!!

(NOTE: "Rita Maria" is actually "Maria Rita" Brandao, NOT "Maria Rita" Mariano, Elis Regina's talented daughter. Originally both singers sang under the name of "Maria Rita". This created confusion among some fans. Maria Rita Brandao, whose career start actually precedes Mariano's, graciously decided to end the confusion by reversing her given names to create the stage name RITA MARIA. No matter, both ladies can 'sing like fierce angels', but in different ways and vocal ranges. And the fans should be supporting BOTH of these singers. Both are brilliant and I love each one's art, but I almost bought "Fora de Orbita" thinking it was Maria Rita Mariano's second CD. I'm happy to say I finally DID buy this CD a few months later, based on some truly FABULOUS reviews coming from all over Brazil and the internet.)