Ramana Vieira and Ensemble launch fantastic new CD Project

This CD project will highlight the Luso cultures of the world, incorporating songs and musical styles from Portuguese-speaking communities in Macau, Cape Verde, Africa, and the Americas as well as Portugal.

My two previous albums, "Lagrimas De Rainha" and "Despi Alma," combined the traditional Fado of my parents' roots with original compositions, and we are building upon that experience. My six piece ensemble is composing songs and exploring traditional melodies that blend all of these influences.

Our accomplished ensemble will be joined by award winning producers, guest musicians, poets, and composers.

Our previous CD projects have taught me the importance of investing in an effective marketing campaign, which is a significant part of this project budget. We plan to record with Victor Owens, the producer of our last CD, and to work with a marketing team from "Rock, Paper, Scissors" world music publicity company.

Bio and testimonials:

Ramana's rich, musical artistry combined with her unconventional original style have transported audiences throughout the world with highlights that include: receiving the honor of being invited to Macau, China to headline the huge "Encontro Festival," where she wowed the audience during the closing ceremonies and was chosen to appear on the front cover of the Macau Journal, shared the stage with Grammy nominated fadista Mariza; performing her original song "Unido Para Amar" for the 2006 Winter Olympics video montage; making her international debut with RPT TV Portuguese network; and chosen to sing for the Grammy's 50th Awards special Music Cares benefit to honor Aretha Franklin, Ramana Vieira CD "Lagrimas De Rainha (Tears of a Queen" released in 2009 by The Pacific Coast Jazz Label, climbed to 43 on the World Music Radio charts nationally.

Labeled "The new voice of Portuguese world music" by Mundo Portugues magazine, Ramana Vieira pulls traditional Portuguese fado music into the 21st century with her powerful vocals and unique stylings. Juxtaposing unconventional instrumental layers over fado's haunting melodies and melancholy stories of heartache and disappointment, she updates old-world ballads while maintaining the integrity of this time-honored tradition.

Born in San Leandro, California to Portuguese immigrants, Ramana's personal relationship to fado lies deep in her family history. Her grandfather was a famous musician and composer from Madeira Island, and Ramana was exposed to the voices of Portugal's past at a young age.

Many of the songs on her recordings are inspired by Ramana's main influence, Amália Rodrigues, known as the "Queen of Fado", which she heard on her mother's record collection as a child.

Ramana Vieira is joined by her dedicated and talented ensemble: Laura Boytz on cello, Michael McMorrow on Portuguese Guitarra, Jeffrey Luiz on classic guitar, Stephen La Porta on percussion, and Alberto Ramirez on electric bass.


" Conservatory Trained Singer, Ramana Vieira adds a new age sensibility and instrumentation to the music with cello and drums." Larry Rohter, New York Times.

"If anyone can expand fado’s audience and take the music from Portuguese dive bars to PBS specials, it’s Vieira." Brett Campbell, Eugene Weekly"
www.eugeneweekly.com

"Ramana Vieira may not be a household name but she is most definitely a star. California based, making her New York debut was just the vivacious ambassador to do the job." Evan Ginzburg Film Producer, "Wrestler." www.legendsradio.net


"Ramana Vieira is a force in spreading awareness of fado, having developed her style in California, abroad in Portugal, and listening to its many modes." ~Andrew Gilbert, Boston Globe www.boston.com

"The New Voice of Portuguese World Music" - Mundo Portugues-New York

"A World music treat!--Centuries of traditional Portuguese folk music get a 21st century upgrade when East Bay native, Ramana Vieira, the top Fado singer in the United States, performs. " -Pete Crooks, Diablo Valley Magazine.

Most recently the New york times wisely included Ramana in an eye opening article on the revival of Fado and Portuguese Music. “Conservatory-trained singer Ramana Vieira adds a New Age sensibility and instrumentation to the music with cello and drums.

“Amália Rodrigues is in my DNA, but so is Kate Bush, and I started out in a new-wave band,” Ms. Vieira said before a recent performance in New York. “My purpose is to open up the fado and keep exploring it. My group doesn’t have a traditional fado configuration, so we’ve had to evolve.”


TO OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION ON THIS PROJECT PLEASE CONTACT
RAMANA VIEIRA

Ramana Vieira sings with such a wide range of emotions one cannot help but be mesmerized by images of “old world” Portugal that emerge from the depths of her soul. Her extraordinary gift of bringing this 15th century style into modern times is her unique trademark. Often referred to as the “New Voice of Portuguese World Music,” this powerful vocalist is making her mark as one of the premier contemporary Fado artists.

According to the Portuguese, Fado is a melancholy and often-mournful music similar to the American blues as it tells stories of heartache and disappointment.

The essence of the poetry is the quality of “saudade,” a word that is difficult to translate as it expresses a myriad of feelings.

Ramana’s personal relationship to Fado music lies deep in her family history, as her grandfather was a famous musician and composer from Madeira Island, Portugal. Born in San Leandro, California to Portuguese immigrants, Ramana was fortunate to be exposed to the voices of Portugal’s past at a young age. “During my childhood, I sang with my mother to Amália Rodgrigues and other fabulous fadistas that were part of her special record collection,” said Ramana in a recent interview. Her mother quickly observed her daughter’s gift for music and by the age of ten she bought a piano so that Ramana could study classical music.

Marlene Duval and Associates
3 Times Square
New York, NY 10036
USA

This release was published on openPR.