Ramana Vieira & Ensemble: Live Fado Music

Ramana Vieira & Ensemble: Live Fado Music

Sat. June 18, 2011 8pm

$22.50 advance/ $24.50 at door

Ensemble-Laura Boytz on cello, Michael McMorrow on Portuguese Guitarra, Jeffrey Luiz on classic guitar, Stephen La Porta on percussion, and Alberto Ramirez on electric bass.

Freight & Salvage

2020 Addison

Berkeley, CA 94704

510-655-2020

http://www.freightandsalvage.org/

Ramana Vieira will be performing with her Ensemble at Freight & Salvage on Saturday June 18, 2011 at 8pm. This musical landmark in Berkeley is perfect for Ramana's Fado artistry!
Referred to as "The New Voice of Portuguese World Music" by Mundo Portugues, Ramana Vieira sings with such a wide range of emotions one cannot help but be mesmerized by images of "old world" Portugal that emerge from the depths of her soul. Her extraordinary gift of bringing this 15th century style into modern times is her unique trademark.  
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. 
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. 
Born in San Leandro, California to Portuguese immigrants, Ramana has a personal relationship to fado that lies deep in her family history. Her grandfather was a famous musician and composer from Madeira Island, and Ramana was exposed to the voices of Portugal's past at a young age. Many of the songs on her recordings are inspired by Ramana's main influence, Amália Rodrigues, known as the "Queen of Fado", which she heard on her mother's record collection as a child. 
Ramana Vieira is joined by her dedicated and talented ensemble: Laura Boytz on cello, Michael McMorrow on Portuguese Guitarra, Jeffrey Luiz on classic guitar, Stephen La Porta on percussion, and Alberto Ramirez on electric bass.

Contact Information-www.ramanavieira.net http://www.ramanavieira.net/Artist's videos, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BqHm2ip8Lghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v...