Brazilian newcomer Patricia Talem is both a fresh voice and someone’s who’s not afraid to borrow something inspired from the past. On her self-titled debut album ( NuGroove/Points South Music), the young vocalist from São Paulo offers a captivating selection of songs flavored with classic MPB (Brazilian popular music), jazz - the kind of pure, non-vibrato sonority we fell in love with with Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto - and sophisticated pop. Patricia has smartly teamed up with an all-star collection of musicians, including Yellowjackets Jimmy Haslip and Russell Ferrante, and songwriters such as Chico Buarque, Rita Lee and Ron Sexsmith, aligning all of the right ingredients for a perfect recording debut. Three years ago, in the capable hands of Latin Grammy award-winning producer Marco da Costa and Sandro Albert, Patricia began sifting through the catalogues of some of Brazil’s finest songwriters – revered masters like Buarque, Lee and Renato Motha and rising stars Keco Brandão and Elder Costa. She also chose one English language song, Ron Sexsmith’s “Never Give Up”, which features a guest performance by James Taylor sideman singer Arnold McCullers. Together, singer and producers came up with a wide-ranging repertoire that expresses Patricia’s goal to “…create a portrait of my life right at this moment”, a moment that promises a very successful international career. “Everything used to be so chic…”, sings Patricia on the Rita Lee-penned “Só De Você”. With Patricia Talem, it still is.
