Please note this is an old page and Fly Global Music has now moved. Please follow this link and search for the entry in the new site.

Maria Bethânia has carved out a distinctive place for herself amongst the pantheon of Brazilian greats of the last half century. Her love for the dramatic, the theatrical and the unashamedly romantic has earned her a place in the hearts of a devoted fan-base and today, 40 years after her debut show in Rio set her on the path to stardom, she is still one of the biggest names in Brazilian music.

It is also 40 years since she first met the legendary poet, lyricist and co-founder of the bossa nova movement Vinícius de Moraes, an early supporter with whom she went on to forge an enduring friendship. To celebrate this double anniversary, Bethânia has produced Que Falta Você Me Faz, a homage to Vinícius that draws on material from across his luminous career, including his near-mythical collaborations with Tom Jobim and Baden Powell.

Typically, Bethânia has sought out material with a dramatic edge. Her selections range from the smooth, confident samba of ‘Lamento no Morro’ to the introspective ‘O Astronauta’. Her smoky, controlled delivery is complemented perfectly by an expansive musical setting based around sensitive arrangements of piano, guitar and percussion. Unfortunately, the glossy, overwrought strings that Bethânia too often relies upon to provide the emotional punch are also present on many of the tracks, needlessly distracting from the otherwise subtle performances.

Que Falta… is at its best on songs such as ‘Modinha’ and the closing ‘Nature Boy’ (with brother Caetano Veloso) when the backing is kept simple, allowing the quality of the songwriting and Bethânia’s remarkable voice to shine. At moments of undeniable beauty such as these, the set borders on perfection.