María Rivas

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María Rivas (born January 26, 1960) is a versatile Latin jazz singer, composer, and occasional painter.

[edit] Career

Born in Caracas, Venezuela of Spanish mother and Venezuelan father, Rivas gradually built her voice skills as a hobby, absorbing the multiple influences of contemporary Venezuelan and Latin musicians. She only began singing professionally in local night clubs since 1983, but soon moved to Aruba where, for 2½ years, she performed in a nightly jazz show named Sentimental Journey Through Jazz, where she astonished audiences with her mastery of Jazz variations, much in the style of Ella Fitzgerald and other notable divas. She returned to Caracas and began performing in its most important venues, quickly becoming one of Venezuela's best loved and highly respected performing artists. Her well-tuned voice, her command of English and Portuguese and her considerable personal charm and beauty have built her a large crowd of loyal fans. Also, she has become a leading voice in the region's environmental movement, which has earned her ample recognition. Her musical message as a composer often has ecological undertones.

In 2005 Rivas returned to Aruba to be part of the show "Good Save The Queen", a tribute to the rock band Queen. Since 2006 Rivas has spent 7 months each year in Tokyo, where she has found acclaim for her performances of Brazilian and Latin Jazz, sharing the summertime stage with the Indigo Trio, a local jazz ensemble in Roppongi, Japan.

Rivas has recorded nine albums as a soloist, and also has performed live in Colombia, Brazil, Austria, Holland, Italy, Switzerland, France, Portugal, Panama, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic.

In 2008 Rivas will be celebrating her 25th-year anniversary since starting her long career, with special homage concerts dedicated to the much-beloved Maestro Aldemaro Romero, who died in 2007 at 79 years of age, featuring Romero's music and arrangements, and scheduled for Venezuela and Colombia.

[edit] Selected discography

• Muare (soloist album, 1996)
• Swing con Son (Alberto Naranjo Latin Jazz Big Band , 1996)
• Aquador (soloist and composer, 2005)

[edit] External Links

• Official Maria Rivas Home page
• Complete discography at Sincopa.com
• mararivasmusic
• Europe Jazz Network (outdated)