CityLife

Must see: Mariza

Mariza

IT took the death of fado’s most celebrated interpreter, Amalia Rodrigues, to convince Mariza dos Reis Nunes (left) that she could take over the mantle of keeping the traditional Portuguese music alive.

A singer from the age of three, when she started experimenting with soul, gospel and jazz styles, Mariza took up singing fado songs when her family decamped from the then Portuguese province of Mozambique to Lisbon.

A melancholic style often linked to the sea, suffering or loss, fado is to Portugal what The Beatles are to Liverpool – year one in the region’s musical history.

Mariza’s sound, though, is not entirely in debt to her Portuguese roots. Time spent in Brazil is responsible for the adoption of more exotic rhythms in her material, and a global audience for her four award-winning studio albums have led Mariza to experiment with new world styles.

Terra – her most recent LP – was produced by flamenco guitarist Javier Limon, and the album even features a cover version of Charlie Chaplin’s Smile.

With any luck, you’ll get to hear her unique take on that at the Bridgewater Hall.

Bridgewater Hall - February 6, 2010 - £22-£25.