RAMANA VIEIRA & ENSEMBLE: The New Voice Of Portuguese World Music

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. 

 This powerful vocalist is making her mark as one of the premier contemporary Fado artists today.  Ramana’s rich, musical artistry combined with her unconventional original style has transported audiences throughout the world with highlights that include receiving being quoted in the New York Times this March about her influences and Fado music. “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.”

 Vieira also received the honor of being invited to Macau, China to headline the huge “Encontro Festival,” where she wowed the audience during closing ceremonies and was chosen to appear on the front cover of the Macau Journal. Moreover, she shared the stage with Grammy nominated Fadista Mariza; performing her original song “Unido Para Amar” for the 2006 Winter Olympics video montage. In addition, Ramana made her international debut with RPT TV Portuguese network. She also was chosen to sing for the Grammy’s 50th Awards special Music Cares benefit to honor Aretha Franklin. Ramana Vieira’s  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. 

 Ramana Vieira: vocals

Laura Boytz: cello

Michael McMorrown: Portuguese guitarra

Jeffrey Luiz: classic guitar

Stephen La Porta: percussion

Alberto Ramirez: electric bass

 “Conservatory trained singer Ramana Vieira brings a New Age sensibility to the Fado with the instrumentation of cello and drums.”-Larry Rohter, New York Times

“No one in the United States is doing more to breathe new life into Fado than Ramana Vieira, a sultry, dramatic singer.” – Andrew Gilbert, San Francisco Chronicle

 “Ramana Vieira deserves a prominent place in the front rank of today’s Fado singers, you will feel transported to another place….maybe Bairro Alto, Lisbon… 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

 “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

http://www.ramanavieira.net/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BqHm2ip8Lg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYJxx_aFjdk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5DsdteTjqg