Brazilian singer Maria Rita became a star in her homeland with her self-titled 2004 debut, and her rise to fame was undoubtedly helped by her distinguished bloodline: her father, Cesar Camargo Mariano, is an acclaimed pop and jazz pianist and arranger, and her mother, Elis Regina, was one of Brazil’s greatest modern vocalists. (She died of a drug overdose in 1982, when Rita was four.) Much like her mom, Rita brings a jazz flavor to MPB (musica popular brasileira), and she shares her mother’s warm, nimble phrasing and willingness to work with unknown songwriters. But she avoids Regina’s diva-like tendencies, and ultimately her style is all her own. On the debut, producer Tom Capone enhanced the spare piano-trio arrangements with well-placed guitar and horns, and unlike many Brazilian pop singers, Rita had a genuine working band that could complement her every move. For last year’s Segundo (Warner Brothers Latino), produced with Brazilian singer-songwriter Lenine, she recorded live in the studio with the same trio, a bold move that gives the songs an electric immediacy. While she dabbled with Afro-Cuban grooves and subtle funk jams on the first album, Segundo recalls the jazz-harmony pop of Joni Mitchell, though the rhythms are more propulsive. For these shows, her Chicago debut, she’ll be joined by her trio–pianist Tiago Costa, bassist Sylvinho Mazzucca, and drummer Cuca Teixeira–and percussionist Da Lua. Mon 5/8, 8:30 and 11 PM, HotHouse, 31 E. Balbo, 312-362-9707, $35 in advance, $40 at the door. A Brazilian dinner is included in the ticket price.
