Maria Mendes was nominated for the American Grammy Awards, together with John Beasley in the category BEST ARRANGEMENT INSTRUMENTS AND VOCALS with the song Com que Voz, from the album released in October 2022, Saudade Color of Love.
This is the second time that Maria Mendes has been nominated for the American Grammy, having also been nominated twice for the Latin Grammy.
MARIA MENDES REACTS LIKE THIS TO THIS APPOINTMENT
“What an honour and happiness to receive another nomination for the American Grammy! It’s even more special to experience this news in Seville, where I’m meeting to celebrate my music and nomination for the Latin Grammy at the awards ceremony taking place in a few days.
I am still ecstatic with this musical work and the team that embraced my project and musical vision of exploring and interpreting Fado the Jazz way, praising all my particularities that both on stage and on records make them relevant: the passionate sounds, adventurous and surprising songs that involve the listener in a musical adventure without stylistic barriers. And it is so rewarding to feel that the musical artistic community values and trusts what I convey with my music.
This is an indication that I receive on my behalf but that I share with immense gratitude with each of these 30 musicians – my band, my producer, orchestrator and co-arranger John Beasley and the superb Metropole Orkest.
I always knew that “Com que Voz” was “that” special song, a kind of dimensional portal to something innovative and beautiful! They are emotional, the existentialist poetry of Camoes and the harmonies and melodies of Alain Oulman! There are songs that speak to us in the moment to work them into musical arrangements. And this was one of them, with sublime fluidity, reaching this final result where the orchestra, the voice, the poetry, the band, we all shine!
It’s an inspiration to be side by side with fellow composers that I admire so much, in this category. A reason to be proud is that this is the only song sung in Portuguese! It is a joy to share this nomination with John Beasley, with whom I share the authorship of this musical arrangement recorded on my new album Saudade, Color of Love”.
Maria Mendes was the first Portuguese female artist to receive a nomination for the American Grammy as well as the first to win the most important Dutch music award, the EDISON.
Saudade Color of Love is the fourth album in which the singer explores Jazz in Fado in songs of her own creation as well as in fascinating musical arrangements of fados and traditional Portuguese songs such as ” Quando Eu Era Pequenina ” and ” Verdes Anos “ by Carlos Paredes. This album also features a surprising contribution from Hermeto Pascoal who dedicated a song to the singer – his version of a Fado. The album topped the list of best jazz albums 2022 in five of the main international jazz magazines – the prestigious American DOWNBEAT and Jazziz; English JAZZWISE; German JAZZTHING and Dutch JAZZISM.
Saudade Color of Love also gave rise to a tour that is available in Portugal. This year, Maria Mendes performed in our country a few times with her quartet and, in some cases, with the accompaniment of an orchestra.
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