Born in Rio in 1967, Marisa proved herself with a first album that showcased her brilliant voice singing standards from Gershwin and Weill, a samba, a Carmen Miranda hit, an American soul classic, and new tunes by Brasilian composers. The terrific success of that 1989 album was merely a prelude to the move to songwriting demonstrated on her more recent recordings. Despite a birth in Rio, she seems the

Her vocal versatility contrasts lusty, bluesy growls, sensual murmurs, and a delicious vibrato with which she can swing into samba or illuminate a tropicália standard. As an 18 year old, she studied operatic singing in Italy before returning to Brasil from homesickness. She made her mark through live performances after her return to Rio, and her first album is simply a reflection of her repertoire. Recognized as a powerful new voice, both international and national musical stars participated in her follow-up recordings.