Katia Moraes, Newbury Park, CA
“ (…) And Moraes' singing, as always, was a virtual definition of the passion that is an implicit part of Brazilian music." LOS ANGELES TIMES
The unique Brazilian singer/songwriter/graphic artist/educator/producer Kátia Moraes began her career in Rio de Janeiro in the 1980's with the band "O Espirito da Coisa.” Since then, she has performed and/or recorded with top Brazilian acts like Sergio Mendes, Airto Moreira, Oscar Castro-Neves, Rita Lee, Elba Ramalho, Sandy and Junior, Banda Cheiro de Amor, and also with George Duke, Latin Grammy nominee Alex Acuña and Justo Almario's Tolú, Grammy nominee "Latin Project", and German saxophonist Praful.
After moving to Los Angeles in 1990, she started lending her voice to films and television for dubbing and "Voice-overs". She has performed with Pure Samba, 22-piece Orchestra Feijoada Completa, Samba Society, Bloco Nove, Falso Baiano, The Rio Thing, Midnight Drums, Sol & Mar, Viver Brasil Dance Company, Folk Ballet of Brasil, Badauê, Man and Machine, and many more.
In 1996, she released her first CD "Ten Feet and the Sun" in the U.S. with Brasil Nuts band. In 1999 she released "Ginga" with Sambaguru, and in 2003 "Live" by Kufala Records. Her 4th CD with Sambaguru is called "Navegar ao Sol" by Moondo Records. In 2009 Sambaguru released "Tribo" that was on the Preliminary Nominating Ballot for the Grammy 2009.
In January 2013 Kátia released her first solo EP produced by sound engineer/producer Lynne Earls (K.D.Lang, Airto Moreira, Flora Purim).
"Mistureba", new music and video will be released on August 24, 2017.
She is currently singing with Brazilian Hearts, Samba Society, Brazilian Heart Choro Band, and Viver Brasil Dance Company.
The Pure Samba project won the L.A. Treasure Award, granted in part, by the California Traditional Music Society, a facility of the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Dept. and The California Traditional Music Society.
Kátia Moraes is the creator/producer of “Brazilian Heart, a Celebration” Series that started in 2012. The musical series pays homage to influential Brazilian artists like Elis Regina (2012), Clara Nunes (2013), Maria Bethânia (2014), Noel Rosa (2015), Rita Lee & Beyond (2016), and Tom Jobim Meet American Jazz Divas (2017).
PRESS HIGHLIGHTS
“Blessed with a songbird's voice, a poet's heart, an educator's enthusiasm and an entertainer's vision, Moraes is the complete package.”
ENTERTAINMENT TODAY
“Moraes strutted on stage with the grace and attitude of an Amazon princess...Moraes danced, sang and communicated with her fans for over an hour, delivering an impressive performance.”
LATIN STYLE
“Katia Moraes is a sweet-voiced pixie who radiates a sunny energy, with traces of Brazilian great Elis Regina in Moraes's singing.”
THE VALLEY BEAT
“Brazilian singer Katia Moraes -- a born afternoon sunshine performer...”
VARIETY
“Katia is an absolute dynamo on stage.”
L.A. JAZZ SCENE
“Kátia's voice can be powerful and heartfelt, coy and compelling, expansive or intimate.”
THE BRAZILIAN MUSIC REVIEW
“Moraes, always an irrepressibly effervescent performer...”
LOS ANGELES TIMES
"Leapfrogging from straight pagode to funked-out samba to rock, Kátia's hearty vocal cords dominate...”
THE BEAT
"(...) But there ain't a Brazilian singer in town who is as irresistible as Katia Moraes. Crowds go nuts when she performs. The energy, the charisma, the sheer joy of Brazilian music just fills a space." LA WEEKLY
