Mafalda Minnozzi: Riofonic

Brazil Meets Italy

— Closing 2024, I got news of an upcoming new release by Mafalda Minnozzi. Her new album will be in stores on February 7, 2025: Riofonic.

Produced by Paul Ricci and recorded in Rio de Janeiro, Riofonic features jazz performer Mafalda Minnozzi singing Brazilian Bossa Nova classics in the company of some stellar and familiar names, including Roberto Menescal (vocals and acoustic guitar), Jorge Helder (acoustic bass), Jacques Morelenbaum (cello), Rafael Rocha (trombone), Marcelo Martins (saxes and flutes), Jessé Sadoc (trumpet) and several other well-known musicians.

Minnozzi splits her time at three home locations: the USA, Brazil, and Italy. She has performed with Milton Nascimento, João Bosco, Leny Andrade, among others. Her musical evolution has been solid, whether performing at Birdland or festivals around Italy. She developed her own percussive scat singing style, which shines brightly in some songs on this album. She innovates and fuses her world with Brazilian traditions seamlessly. Riofonic is a very pleasing release.

Although the repertoire is significantly Brazilian and sung in Portuguese, you will also enjoy Minnozzi’s own “Café South American Style” and ” Postcard from Rio” as well as Domenico Modugno & Roberto Gigli’s “Tu Si ‘Na Cosa Grande.” That rendition gets a marvelous trio arrangement with Minnozzi’s smooth vocals reaching new heights. From the opening “Rio,” the album never loses steam. You will enjoy all the tracks, including “Corcovado,” “Só Danço Samba, “Eu e a Brisa” and the entire repertoire. The fourteen tracks in the album — about an hour-long of great music — are pure listening pleasure in lovely and polished arrangements.

To whet your listening pleasure, check out this single available on YouTube.

Mark your calendar for this terrific release on February 7. You will swing along with this lively repertoire, superb performances headlined by Mafalda Minnozzi, and this top-notch ensemble.