HOME | ABOUT | THANK YOU | NEWS | PROGRAMS | MISSION | INVEST IN JAZZ | EXHIBIT | VOLUNTEER | EVENTS | CONTACT | ABOUT OUR FOUNDER

South Florida Jazz Profile:
Maria Rivas

Known as one of the most versatile voices in Latin America and now North America, Maria Rivas skillfully combines American and Latin Jazz rhythms with lively yet sentimental music from around the world.  She interprets her music in English, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese, and performs her own blend of traditional standards as well as music and lyrics she has composed herself.

Her unique sound is an intoxicating combination of indigenous, Caribbean, European, and African strains, with classic American jazz, and just the right splash of Brazilian and Latin accents.

From slow and sensuous, to very lively with a strong beat, her audiences love alternately to dance to her music, or sit and listen while being both moved and energized.  A significant number of her audience members have described her performances as “magical”--their word.

During her musical career spanning over 30 years, Maria has released ten CDs while headlining concerts in Latin America, North America, Europe, and Asia. including the world-famous Monteux Jazz Festival in Switzerland.  She entertains her audiences with her uniquely melodious voice and dynamic expression and stage presence, as well as her phenomenal ‘Scat’ improvisations, which have been favorably compared by music critics and audiences with those of Ella Fitzgerald.

Maria has won every prestigious singing award Venezuela and much of Latin America have to offer.  Her hit song, MANDUCO, remained in the number one position on the charts in Latin America for many months, and in the top 10 for over 3 years, and turned her into a cultural icon.  Maria now makes her home in South Florida.
Ms. Rivas also became known as the vocalist most associated with Venezuela’s most prominent and beloved composer of the 20th century, Maestro Aldemaro Romero.

Ms. Rivas and Maestro Romero collaborated during 20 years of concerts, both acoustic with piano and voice, as well as with symphonic orchestras.  Over the course of this period, Ms. Rivas achieved an intensely personal style of interpretation of Maestro Romero’s work, which continues to influence her Jazz interpretations and improvisations.

Maria is also an innovative and accomplished painter and visual artist, with a refreshing and distinctive style.  She has created works on multiple media, and these now grace the galleries of museums and collectors around the world.  Maria’s latest paintings are her “American Jazz Greats” Series.

In this Series, she has created highly original interpretations on canvas of some of the greatest artists in Jazz history, including (alphabetically) Chet Baker, Miles Davis, and Nina Simone.  Art critics have raved that the viewer can actually experience the sensation of listening to these great performers while simply looking at Maria’s paintings.

Maria frequently exhibits her art during her musical performances, creating a tremendously attractive and unusual combination of delights for her audiences.

Maria Rivas is a renowned environmentalist and humanitarian in her native Venezuela.  Among her many charitable works, she has been instrumental in popularizing the Recycling movement in that nation.  An example of her innovative approach was her series of concerts where the ticket of admission was paid by young patrons in the form of bags of Recycled Garbage brought to the concert!!  She also has devoted her leadership skills in Hatha Yoga and meditation to women and teenage inmates in Venezuela prisons, where she led successful programs to reach numerous prisoners through her positive example and teachings.

More about Maria at: mariarivas.us

Links:
Grand Opening Visual Arts Exhibition Celebrates Jazz Heritage!

Together Again--Two South Florida Jazz Giants Mel Dancy and Ira Sullivan

 

 

"I am" short film presentation premiered at the 2nd Annual South Florida Jazz Summit. Watch it and be inspired.

Make a tax-deductable donation to JAZZONIAN. Invest in the future of Jazz! Click here!

Letter from the Founder and President of Jazzonian: Bobby Ramirez

Attention Pro Jazz Musicians:
Join the Jazzonian Artist-in-Residence Program

2011 JAZZONIAN Legacy Awards
And the winners are: Ed Bell (WLRN), Lifetime Achievement; Phyllis Fee, Jazz Benefactor; and James Chism, Jazz Volunteer.

Excellence in Jazz Education
Jazzonian is very pleased to announce its 2011 Excellence in Jazz Education Award. This year's recipient is Mr. Christopher Dorsey, Band Director of the Jazz Orchestra at Dillard Center for the Arts.

A New Creative Way to Experience Jazz!
Jazzonian is pleased to announce its new innovative education program called TOUCH JAZZ.

JAZZONIAN Traveling Exhibit
As part of our commitment to inspire, educate, and bring people together, JAZZONIAN is available as a traveling exhibit to local community schools, institutions and organizations seeking to create more awareness of Jazz while celebrating the rich history of this unique American art form. If you would like JAZZONIAN to be part of your special event, contact Bobby Ramirez, info@jazzonian.org