Lúcia Menezes feat. Rebecca Kleinmann

 

Brazilian songstress Lúcia Menezes & acclaimed flutist, singer, and composer Rebecca Kleinmann will perform traditional Northern Brazilian popular music, traversing Forró, frevo, and other rhythms. Lúcia soulful interpretations pay reverence to the past with a clairvoyance that sweeps concert-goers up into a proper musical celebration. It was only fitting she partner with Rebecca, as in the words of Latin Grammy Nominated pianist and composer, Jovino Santos Neto, “Rebecca plays flute with the passion of a flamenco dancer.”

 

About Lucia Menezes: Born in Itapipoca, a small town in the northeast of Brazil, Lúcia has built a noted career as a performer and recording artist, even earning a nomination for Best Singer in the “Brazilian Music Award” (the Brazilian Grammy). Twice she has won the Cultural Foundation of Fortaleza’s award for Best Singer. The honesty and intimacy of Lúcia’s voice holds audiences spellbound and her flawless technique is born from studying and living music since she was a toddler. Lúcia’s songs are her history and also our history. She has such a gift for expressing the core emotion of each piece, it sometimes seems like she is breathing rather than singing.

 

Her latest release Lúcia is a joyful homage to traditional Brazilian music and features collaborations with special guests Chico Buarque and Miúcha. Her previous albums have included Lúcia Menezes with producer José Milton and arrangements by Cristóvão Bastos and João Lyra; Pintando e bordado which boasted the same team and earned her the “Brazilian Music Award” nomination. Lúcia’s Lucinha celebrated unjustifiably neglected artists in the history of Brazilian music and debuted two previously unpublished songs by the composer and journalist Angela Brandão.

 

About Rebecca Kleinmann: Growing up in Charlotte, North Carolina, Rebecca began improvising on flute in a Gospel Church while also playing in the city’s Youth Symphony. In 2000, she won the National Flute Association’s Jazz competition with the performance of an original composition. She studied with David Baker at the acclaimed Indiana University School of Music where she graduated with degrees in Jazz and Spanish then traveled extensively to immerse herself in the cultures of Flamenco, Tango, and Brazilian Music. Rebecca produced her first album “Raio de Sol” in 2005 including co-written music with legendary musician Hermeto Pascoal, and performances by Grammy artists Airto Moreira and Jovino Santos Neto. In addition to being a performing and recording artist, Rebecca is a dedicated music teacher currently directing choirs with the Oakland Youth Chorus.