Maruja Muci - Tiempos Modernos

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:39
Size: 108,1 MB
Art: Front

(4:33)  1. Primavera
(5:27)  2. Mantra
(5:32)  3. Algún Lugar
(4:48)  4. Tiempos Modernos
(4:34)  5. Promiscua Soledad
(5:03)  6. Pensamiento Libre
(4:50)  7. Besos
(4:05)  8. Adiós
(3:09)  9. Canción de Cuna
(4:34) 10. The Final Countdown

On her third self-released disc, Venezuelan singer Maruja Muci concentrates on a songwriting side (her two previous CDs were largely cover sets) that reveals strong Brazilian influences, starting with "Primavera," a modern bossa with electronic elements reminiscent of the kind often favored by Brazil's Bebel Gilberto. Muci, however, makes the sound her own with her strong delivery and sparse instrumentation that enriches her voice instead of covering it with excess. She nods to her country's musical influences on "Mantra," an effects-laden track that features superior percussion work from Alberto Vergara and Diego Alvarez Munoz. A notable moment comes with "Algun Lugar," a gently romantic ballad that revolves around Adrian Holtz's acoustic guitar and Muci's double-tracked vocals. "Promiscua Soledad" is the most pop-inflected tune, which opens with the sound of a train, followed by electronic drums and Muci's soft rap vocals. Other tracks include "Pensiamento Libre," a tune that blends rock tendencies with Middle Eastern beats, and the Flamenco-tinged "Besos." Tiempos Modernos closes with its sole English-language track, a cover of Europa's "The Final Countdown." Muci's down-tempo, sexy treatment could easily have appeared in a late 1970s James Bond film; consciously or not, the arrangement borrows from songs like Shirley Basseys "Moonraker" and Gladys Knight's "License To Kill." Muci as of 2010, yet to perform in the U.S. sounds incredibly comfortable. The eclectic blend of traditional rhythms, jazz and pop are highly enjoyable, and Tiempos Modernos just might be the disc that breaks her into the international market. ~ Ernest Barteldes https://www.allaboutjazz.com/tiempos-modernos-self-produced-review-by-ernest-barteldes.php

Personnel: Maruja Muci: vocals, arrangements;  Carlos Camarasa:guitar;  Adam Ross: guitar,arrangements;  Kurt Uenala: bass, arrangements;  Alberto Vergara, William Troconis; percussion;  Adrian Holtz: drum programming;  Diego Alvarez Munoz: cajon, percussion.

Tiempos Modernos

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Maruja Muci - My Funny Valentine

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:25
Size: 106,7 MB
Art: Front

(2:35)  1. All Of Me
(2:57)  2. Black Coffee
(3:16)  3. Tenderly
(3:53)  4. Fever
(2:21)  5. Lullaby Of Birdland
(2:50)  6. Peel Me A Grape
(3:28)  7. Every Time We Say Goodbye
(4:22)  8. It Ain't Necessarilly So
(4:36)  9. Cry Me A River
(2:50) 10. Night And Day
(4:02) 11. We'll Be Together Again
(3:12) 12. Do I Move You
(5:57) 13. My Funny Valentine

This is Maruja Muci’s second commercial release. “My funny Valentine”, the title of her second album, is inspired by R. Rodgers & L. Hart’s song of the same title. The album contains 13 songs chosen from what it is called The Great American Songbook , songs that were written between the decades of 1930 and 1960. This album seeks to reinterpret some of the most relevant songs of this era with a Latin influence. It was a very difficult to choose the songs, since this repertoire is so extense and beautiful. Nostalgia may have played a significant role in the selection, as the voices of Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Peggy Lee and many others were always there when she visited her father’s home. 

The album was recorded live in Jazzmania studios in Caracas,the General Production was managed by Maruja Muci, with collaboration from pianist Alberto Lazo. Many other talented musicians also participated in this production such as Bassist Carlos Rodríguez, drummer Miguel Hernández, Benjamín Brea plays the flute and the saxo, Cellist Pedro Vásquez and Nadim Dao in the Harmonica. The great Austrian- Venezuelan musician, Gerry Weil arranged and played the piano for the title song of this work. Listening to Maruja's voice is listening to a clean, velvety and unaffected voice that wraps itself around the lyrics, it is a voice that tells stories while it sings and brings with it a sense of intimacy between the listener and the artist as if she is singing to you and you alone.   http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/marujamuci2

My Funny Valentine

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Maruja Muci - Dreaming In Caracas

Styles: Fusion, Bossanova, Contemporary Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:08
Size: 113,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:20)  1. I Keep On Dreaming
(3:23)  2. I Seek Your Heart
(2:36)  3. Caramba
(3:17)  4. Tanto
(2:38)  5. Fly Me To The Moon
(3:21)  6. Baubles Bangles And Beads
(2:43)  7. Venezuela
(4:02)  8. Mala Idea
(4:02)  9. Love Is In The Air
(3:26) 10. Velas Izadas
(4:16) 11. I'll Be Gone
(3:27) 12. Chovendo Na Roseira
(3:33) 13. Reprise
(4:58) 14. Adrian Holtz's Remix

Maruja Muci was born in Caracas, and it is this city which inspires the title of her first commercial release, "dreaming in caracas". An album that is full of beautiful songs in English, Spanish and Portuguese arranged in the best jazz-bossa-lounge style. The playing and production find the best of both the contemporary and the classic and create an eclectic and sultry style which is all her own.  Sony-Bmg is in charge of promoting and distributing this record in Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador. The General Production was managed by Maruja Muci, with collaboration from two exceptional Venezuelan musicians: José Manuel Pinto and Gonzalo Micó. Many other talented musicians also participated in this production such as Percussionist Joel "Pibo" Márquez, Theorbist Rubén Riera, Adrian Holtz who is winner of two ASCAP awards and also two Boston Music awards, Moby's "Hotel" musician Kurt Uenala and many others.  

"Hair", the musical, opened in Caracas in 1983, with Maruja starring as first ballerina and singer; from there she moved on to TV commercials where her voice and image were used for advertising campaigns such as "Pepsi" and "Alliance for a Drug free Venezuela", among others. In 1987 she obtained a Law Degree. It was not until 1993 that she returned to singing with the leading role of "Doña Virtudes" in the Spanish Zarzuela "La Gran Vía" After that she undertook classical singing lessons with her teacher, Florentina Adam, she has continued these studies ever since. In the summer of 2002, while in New York, she recorded the voice for José Luis Pardo's single "Mala Idea". José Luis is the guitarist and lyricist in the Grammy nominated Venezuelan band "Los Amigos Invisibles". This song would later become a hit in the United Kingdom as the re-mix version by the "Pound Boys" under the "Look At You Records" label.

Listening to Maruja's songs is listening to a clean, velvety and unaffected voice that wraps itself around the lyrics, it is a voice that tells stories while it sings and brings with it a sense of intimacy between the listener and the artist as if she is singing to you and you alone.  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/marujamuci

Dreaming In Caracas

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