Biography
Paula Morelenbaum, born Regina Paula Martins Morelenbaum on July 31, 1962, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, grew up during the peak of bossa nova and the Brazilian military dictatorship. She began her career in 1979 with the vocal group Céu da Boca, performing on albums like Céu da Boca and Baratotal, and touring Brazil extensively. In 1984, Antonio Carlos Jobim invited her to join his Nova Banda, where she served as a featured vocalist for ten years, recording on albums such as Passarim, Antonio Brasileiro, Tom Jobim: Inédito, and Tom Canta Vinicius, and touring globally including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center until Jobim's death in 1994.
After Jobim's passing, Morelenbaum launched her solo career with her 1993 debut album Paula Morelenbaum, produced by her husband Jaques Morelenbaum. She formed the Quarteto Jobim-Morelenbaum in 1995 with Jaques, Paulo Jobim, and Daniel Jobim, releasing a self-titled album in 1999 and touring worldwide. Key collaborations included the trio Morelenbaum²/Sakamoto, yielding acclaimed albums like Casa (2001), Live in Tokyo, and A Day in New York (2003), blending bossa nova with jazz and contemporary elements. Her style remains rooted in bossa nova masters like Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes, while incorporating samba, jazz improvisation, and international influences.
Morelenbaum has released numerous solo albums, including Água, Telecoteco, Berimbaum, and Atlântico (2019) with the Bossarenova Trio. Nominated for Latin Grammys, she has collaborated with artists like Ivan Lins, Caetano Veloso, and performed in projects like the 1994 Carmen Miranda tribute Chica-chica-boom-chic. Her legacy endures as a guardian of bossa nova, bridging Brazilian traditions with global audiences through innovative trios and tours.
Fun Facts
- Paula Morelenbaum debuted her solo career in New York jazz clubs like Birdland in 1990, performing with American musicians shortly after her first album.
- She starred in the 1989 musical Lamartine para Ingles Ver by Antonio de Bonis, acting alongside Vera Holtz and Guida Vianna.
- In 1994, she toured Brazil with Chica-chica-boom-chic, reinterpreting Carmen Miranda's hits with her own arrangements.
- Bossarenova Trio formed after European tours with SWR Big Band, debuting in New York before expanding globally, though they had not yet played Brazil as of the early 2010s.
Associated Acts
- Morelenbaum²/Sakamoto
- Quarteto Jobim-Morelenbaum
- Nova Banda
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Antonio Carlos Jobim - Invited her to join Nova Banda as featured vocalist, shaping her early professional career (Passarim, Antonio Brasileiro, Tom Jobim: Inédito, Tom Canta Vinicius) [1984-1994]
Key Collaborators
- Jaques Morelenbaum - Husband, producer, arranger, cellist in trios and quartets (Paula Morelenbaum (1993), Casa (2001), Quarteto Jobim-Morelenbaum (1999), Morelenbaum²/Sakamoto albums) [1993-present]
- Ryuichi Sakamoto - Pianist-composer in Morelenbaum²/Sakamoto trio (Casa (2001), Live in Tokyo, A Day in New York (2003)) [2001-2003]
- Ralf Schmid - Pianist in Bossarenova Trio and SWR Big Band projects (Bossarenova (2009), Atlântico (2019)) [2009-present]
- Joo Kraus - Trumpeter-vocalist in Bossarenova Trio (Bossarenova (2009), Atlântico (2019)) [2009-present]
- Paulo Jobim - Quartet member with son of Antonio Carlos Jobim (Quarteto Jobim-Morelenbaum (1999)) [1995-present]
External Links
References
Heard on WWOZ
Paula Morelenbaum has been played 1 time on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.