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MPB Well Represented in Canada
By: Teka Silveira and Luciana Andrade | Sotaque Brasileiro, Numero 4, Primavera 2004
There is an undisputed fact that the female voices of MPB are a great gift for our ears. Elis Regina, Marisa Monte, Alcione, Zizi Possi, Leila Pinheiro, Ana Carolina, Cássia Eller or Gal Costa, they are part of most Brazilian's lives. And not only the enshrined or those launched by the media every season, no! There are many new talents far from the limelight, and yet, the singers decided to "hit the road" out of Brazil.
This edition of the magazine was moved by the sensitivity of the readers and presents profiles of Monica Freire (Montreal), Patricia Bennett (Vancouver), Guiomar Campbell, Rosangela Cabral and Cibelle Iglesias (Toronto). These artists left their country in search of new opportunities and recognition and are true representatives of the best in this field. With plenty of personality, desire to win and of course, beaut
Guiomar Campbell - For all cultures
Since the late 80's, the Mineira Guiomar Campbell works with music in Toronto. Eclectic and agitated, Guiomar has appeared in bands with different styles, but has always favoured the African rhythm and the Brazilian swing.
Her first musical steps took place at 12 years old when she began to participate in radio shows and music festivals in Juiz de Fora, her homeland. In Canada, she met guitarist Colin Campbell, the person responsible for introducing jazz into her life and who later became her husband. Today, Guiomar sings a lot of Bossa Nova and samba. Along with the Banda Parabólica, they have a highly creative sound, full of swing, a fusion of Latin and African-Brazilians rhythms.
Guiomar is multifaceted, plays several instruments, dances, composes and even works with alternative therapies. She emphasizes the importance of appearing in various regions of Canada, to a multicultural and diverse audience. "It's contagious playing Brazilian music. People identify with our fast pace and the reaction is always positive. I noticed the respect and admiration that everyone has for the sophistication and complexity of our composers," says Guiomar.
On her agenda are presentations in important spaces for large audiences, such as the Ottawa Jazz Festival and Festivalíssimo in Montreal. In Toronto, she performed several times at the Harbourfront Centre and for the Global Divas event, which occurred at the Bamboo-by-the-Lake, along with the famous flautist Jane Bunnett.
Cibelle Iglesias - The performer
Nearly two years ago in Toronto, the mineira that grew up in São Paulo is still in the discovery and expectation phase of her singing career. After all, this former banker never imagined facing a large audience and, after delighting hundreds in karaoke bars, today is the rising star of MPB in the Canadian metropolis. Cibelle used to attend the Brazilian nights in the nightclubs around Dundas Street (predominantly Portuguese area). They liked her so much that the other singers often asked her to sing a song or two, a fact that has always stirred the audience.
What began as a hobby is now a profession and increasingly encourages the singer to improve herself. Possessing a strong voice, with many features and a connoisseur of Brazilian music, Cibelle stresses: "I admire singers that bring classical and old songs in new versions." Cibelle still has a playful relationship with music: she can play with the act of singing, surprises the audience with each song and the public feels captivated by her cheerful and performance disposition.
Her performances are full of brightness and exuberance. As the lead singer of the band Sambacana, she is uninhibited and has the talent of a woman who seeks her place in the sun. If you have not had the opportunity to attend a concert by Cibelle, you do not know what you're missing...
Rosangela Cabral - She is carioca, she is carioca...
At age 9, Rosangela Cabral used to increase the volume of the radio, pretending that a broomstick was her microphone and her mother's flowers were her audience. And sing, sing, sing she did. Currently, the carioca plays some songs from her childhood and is welcomed with enthusiasm by real audiences. In Brazil, she never devoted herself professionally to music but since coming to Canada almost four years ago, she has not stopped singing. Rô, as she is sometimes called, has charisma, talent and voice that makes anyone travel the highways of MPB. Versatile and improving at every show, she started her international career on stage at the Harbourfront Centre in Toronto, along with the Toronto Samba School and a large group of percussionists.
Simultaneously, Rosangel a started singing in smaller bands with few components and different repertoires, such as the band 40 Graus (north-eastern rhythms and MPB in general) and Banda Wave (which highlights the Bossa Nova of Djavan, Gonzaguinha, João Bosco and other MPB icons). Eventually, surrendering to her passion, she devoted herself diligently to voice lessons for two years.
With the band Sambacana, the carioca opened the Halifax Festival (Nova Scotia), where she and former vocalist Dinho had instant success. Another landmark event was Canada Day 2003, when she performed with the band Wave at Harbourfront Centre (Toronto), with the show broadcasted on CBC radio. This great recognition gave the singer a unique joy. Last September the documentary "We Are Samba" was released in Canada where she is one of the highlights and talks a bit about her life. "Even being away from my country, I feel like it is always close to me every time I sing and spread MPB. To me it is the power of God in my life," said Rosangela.
Monica Freire – what does this girl from Bahia have?
Monica Freire's star continues to shine. From when she lived in Salvador, where she replaced Daniela Mercury on vocals for Block Pinel, to almost ten years in Canada, where she lives in the Montreal region, this Bahiana has a guaranteed space with the public and the media. In the years 96 and 97 she launched some work in Japan and started working when she visited the country and was treated as a celebrity, distributing autographs and having her songs played frequently on radio stations. In addition to Japan, she has toured the U.S., Italy, France, Sweden, Mexico, Caribbean and of course in various regions of Canada. Recently, Monica had her talent recognized once again when she performed in the opening show of the Cape Verdean Cesaria Evora, the Montreal International Jazz Festival, which took place in July 2003. Besides having a strong and sexy voice Monica plays guitar and composes her own songs. When she sings Caetano Veloso or a bossa nova song, she nails it.
In 2004 Monica will be launching her new CD, produced in Quebec, recorded in Brazil. The singer is on a constant search for less traditional music. Drums and electronic beats are part of her style. Monica still surprises when Canadian journalists praise her performance, comparing it with great Brazilian singers. For her, it is time for a challenge and despite having the confidence of those who were born to shine, she prefers to make her mark step-by-step.
Patricia Bennett - From law to the microphone
The Mineira Patricia Borges arrived in Vancouver in 2001, and decided to change her life. A former tax lawyer in Uberlândia, Patricia sang for the first time in Canada, with the Brazilian band Sambaqui. The band broke up last year but Patricia continued on with this career. Currently she can be seen and heard at the Café Exotic Brazil restaurant, on Wednesdays and Fridays. The repertoire is bossa nova and samba. "I know that I can not live only for music but I have to fulfill this dream and I know I will get," says Patricia, who chose Vancouver as her city and does not want to leave anytime soon. "I like to sing accompanied by a guitar, with friends watching and showing a bit of Brazilian music," she says.
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