MARÍA MÁRQUEZ

Venezuelan chanteuse Maria Marquez shows that sensuality knows no boundaries in her forthcoming CD "Nature's Princess" (Princesa de la Naturaleza). This CD is Latin Jazz at its best with traditional and non-traditional instrumentation, fluid rhythms, and Marquez's soulful voice. Maria takes her musical cues from the myriad native and international styles- bolero to jazz, Celia Cruz to Edith Piaf- of the Caribbean capital Caracas. Her professional career began during her late teens when she formed a duo with Venezuelan composer and Latin-rock-jazz fusionist Vytas Brenner, and the pair rose to rapid national acclaim before Maria left for the U.S. during her early 20's to study voice, composition, arranging and film scoring at Boston's Berklee College of Music. After graduation, Maria trekked cross-country to train with world-renowned vocal coach Judy Davis in Oakland. Maria performed in a duo with jazz guitarist Joyce Cooling, the duo expanded with the participation of percussionist John Santos read more...