TANIA MARIA       

WOMEN IN JAZZ SITE CONTENTS

  1. Toshiko Akiyoshi
  2. Geri Allen
  3. Andrews Sisters
  4. Angela Andrews
  5. Lil Harden Armstrong
  6. Dorothy Ashby
  7. Pearl Bailey
  8. Beverly Barkley
  9. Karen Briggs
  10. Ruth Brown
  11. Diane Cameron
  12. Betty Carter
  13. Joan Cartwright
  14. Kim Clarke
  15. Gloria Coleman
  16. Alice Coltrane
  17. Dorothy Donegan
  18. Ella Fitzgerald
  19. Rita Graham
  20. Jace Harnage
  21. Billie Holiday
  22. Bertha Hope
  23. Shirley Horn
  24. Lena Horne
  25. Alberta Hunter
  26. Jus' Cynthia
  27. Sandra Kaye
  28. Emme Kemp
  29. Vinnie Knight
  30. Lavelle
  31. Peggy Lee
  32. Abbey Lincoln
  33. Melba Liston
  34. Gloria Lynne
  35. Tania Maria
  36. Marian McPartland
  37. Carmen McRae
  38. Mabel Mercer
  39. M'zuri
  40. Sandy Patton
  41. Trudy Pitts
  42. Cheryl Porter
  43. Shirley Scott
  44. Nina Simone
  45. Bessie Smith
  46. Carol Sudhalter
  47. Sarah Vaughn
  48. Dinah Washington
  49. Ethel Waters
  50. Mary Lou Williams

DIVA JOAN CARTWRIGHT

www.divajc.com

 

Pianist, Singer, Composer, Arranger, Leader

Tania Maria was born in Sao Luis in the north of Brazil, in the heart of a family who practiced music amaturishly but with a real fever. In fact, the little girl quickly becomes sensitive to Brazilian tempo and rhythm. Beginning the piano at the age of 7, she finds herself six years later as the leader of a band who wins first prize in a local contest. Music has become Tania Maria’s muse. She tries, in vain, to distance herself from music, but ends up by giving in to this insistent calling and decided to dedicate her life to music.

At first, she began performing in bars and nightclubs. She travels the world, beginning in Paris, where she records various albums which gets her noticed on an international level, and she signs on with Concord Records. This is a very good collaboration since "Piquant", the first album recorded under this label, earns her the ‘Golden Feather Award’ presented by Leonard Feather, a famous jazz critic. At this point, her success has a achieved a level where she no longer needs to prove herself. She spreads her exceptional talent as a pianist and unique singer to the 4 corners of the world. She participates in the most prestigious jazz festivals where she receives each time the most beautiful of all awards : the publics admiration. In 1985 she is nominated for the "Best Jazz Vocalist of the Year" at the Grammy Awards.

Tania Maria is a traveling spirit. Traveling past the frontiers, she accomplishes the union of the two Americas; one of the southern warm rhythms, of samba and chorinho and one of the northern tonic accents of nostalgic jazz and blues. Sounds in which she doesn’t content herself by simply playing them, but instead she uses their similarities and their differences to create a mutual sound that pleases the ear. Music in which she holds dear the message of memories; of people as well as individuals, of men, women and children. Memories made of cries of freedom, pride defended, and cultures preserved, but also hopes and the reclaiming of dignity. Most importantly she has purified these rhythms, taken away unnecessary elements to bring forth the essence, the urgent and the vital.