A Carioca Goes Regional

Rodrigo Maranhão has been well known as a songwriter and guitarist for more than a decade, and as the leader of the group Bangalafumenga. Fernanda Abreu, Zélia Duncan, and Marianna Leporace have recorded his compositions, and Maria Rita brought his beautiful song "Caminhos das Águas" to a wide audience in 2006 (it sounds uncannily like something her mother Elis Regina would have recorded). His own interpretation of the song, on his 2007 debut album Bordado, features guitarwork that recalls Dori Caymmi's playing on the latter's 1988 solo album. On Bordado, Rodrigo's carioca sensibility gives us new takes on the Brazilian regional styles baião, xote, ciranda and coco (from the Northeast), and milonga gauchesca (from the South). 




Rodrigo Maranhão with Marcelo Caldi, "Milonga"

Rodrigo won the Prémio Tim award in 2008 for best new talent as well as best regional singer. Listen to "Caminhos das Águas" and more here: Rodrigo Maranhão on MySpace.

*photo at top: Rodrigo Maranhão and Roberta Sá