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Elza Soares (1930-2022)

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Elza Soares, one of Brazil's most spectacular and beloved pop singers who fused samba, bossa nova and other rhythmic styles and whipped them into a seductive, breezy confection through her charismatic, joyous delivery, died on January 20. She was 91.

In addition to her stunning beauty and fluid stage presence, she was able to sell everything she sang with an actor's instincts. Soares also was known for tastefully accenting her singing in select places with a Louis Armstrong-like growl. She knew to use it as an accent, not a dominant, novelty theme.

I have most of Soares's vast discography and I can tell you she never recorded a bad album. Her ebullient singing, powerful voice and highly lyrical arrangements are like a first sip of champagne or the moment the sun comes out after a storm. Only a handful of global entertainers are able to fill you with instant pleasure and optimism. She was one of them (France's Henri Salvador is another).

Here's a terrific introduction to Soares's style, energy and music...



Here's an hour-long TV special in 1973...



Here's her complete 1972 album Elza Pede Passagem...



Here's the title track from Se Acaso Você Chegasse in 1961...



Here's Só Danço Samba from Sambossa in 1963...



Here's Dindi from Um Show de Elza in 1965. Dig the arrangement...



Here's Soares performing in 2007...



Here's Soares in a musical scene from a 1962 movie, singing Não Ponha a Mão...



Here's Soares singing Mulata Assanhada with drummer Baterista Wilson das Neves in 1968...



And here's Soares with Elizeth Cardoso (credited as the first singer to record bossa nova in 1957 on Canção do Amor Demais), performing together in 1974...



Way more. Here are links to the other legendary female Brazilian singers I've covered in this ongoing JazzWax series: Sylvia Telles, Beth Carvalho, Nara Leão, Eliana Pittman, Elis Regina, Ana Mazzotti, Maria Creuza, Elizete Cardoso, Véra Brasil, Gal Costa and Astrud Gilberto.

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This story appears courtesy of JazzWax by Marc Myers.
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