Mafalda Minnozzi – Riofonic (Musica Populare Italiana MPI 2321, 2025)
Riofonic is Mafalda Minnozzi’s fourth jazz album for the U.S. market, a heartfelt tribute to the soul of Rio de Janeiro. Produced by her longtime collaborator, New York guitarist and arranger Paul Ricci, the album captures the pulse of Brazilian music with an authenticity that comes from years of deep immersion rather than mere admiration. Recorded in Rio, it resonates with the city’s irresistible rhythms, lovely melodies, and the improvisational spirit that defines both jazz and Brazilian song craft.
Minnozzi’s voice is graceful yet assertive, fluid yet percussive, and multilingual. Her nearly 30-year partnership with Ricci has refined her signature scat technique, one that is less about vocal acrobatics and more about rhythmic interplay, deeply influenced by the syncopations of samba and bossa nova. Minnozzi’s refined vocals, delightful jazz swing, and multilingual versatility.
Riofonic is a dialog between Minnozzi and the city itself. She moves seamlessly between jazz phrasing and the cadences of MPB (Música Popular Brasileira). What’s more, this is an album that breathes with the sway of Lapa’s nightlife, the sophistication of Ipanema’s clubs, and the echoes of choro and samba that still reverberates through the city’s backstreets.
Born in Italy, Minnozzi maintains strong ties to the USA (specifically New York), Italy, and Brazil, performing regularly in each country. Her repertoire spans jazz and popular songbooks from Italy, the U.S., Brazil, France, and Naples, enabling her to engage diverse audiences in prestigious venues worldwide.
Over her extensive career, she has recorded more than 20 albums and collaborated with renowned Brazilian artists such as Milton Nascimento, João Bosco, and Leny Andrade. She has also worked with prominent jazz musicians including Helio Alves, Don Byron, Joe Locke, Dave Liebman, Michael Wolff, and John Patitucci.
Musicians: Mafalda Minnozzi on vocals; Paul Ricci on acoustic and electric guitars; Roberto Menescal on acoustic guitar, vocals; Kassin on electric bass; Jorge Helder on acoustic bass; and Joao Cortez on drums and percussion.
Guest soloists: Jaques Morelenbaum on cello; Marcelo Martins on flutes and saxes; Rafael Rocha on trombone; Jesse Sadoc on trumpet and flügelhorn.
Track list:
- Rio
- Corcovado
- Só Danço Samba
- Café South American Style *
- Eu E A Brisa
- O Barquinho
- Telefone
- Tu Si ‘Na Cosa Grande
- Voce (You)
- Postcard From Rio *
- The Gentle Rain
- Garota De Ipanema
- Se É Tarde, me Perdoa
- Agua De Beber
Buy Riofonic.
Author: Iliana Cabrera
