album rating: ★★★★☆
a) Genre
MPB (Música Popular Brasileira) / Acoustic pop / Chamber jazz-pop. Mais Simples (Simpler) is Zizi Possi's fifteenth studio album and the conclusion of the intimate, acoustic-centred artistic phase she had entered in the early 1990s, following the successful independent releases Sobre Todas as Coisas (1991, Eldorado) and Valsa Brasileira (1993, Velas). The album's arrangements, by a quintet under the musical direction of Jether Garroti Jr., are resolutely spare: acoustic piano, guitar, bass, percussion, and light woodwind or string colour, providing an intimate bed for Possi's fluid soprano. Grokipedia describes this trio of albums (Sobre Todas as Coisas, Valsa Brasileira, Mais Simples) as representing 'her commitment to minimalist production and artistic integrity' and 'pivotal works in her trajectory and in MPB.'
b) Release
Original Brazilian release: PolyGram Brasil (1996; catalogue 532 711-2, CD), phonographic copyright ℗ 1996 PolyGram. This album marked Possi's return to her previous label PolyGram after the independent Velas and Eldorado phases; as the Portuguese Wikipedia notes, 'the album marks Possi's return to her former record company, PolyGram.' A 2002 CD reissue was released by Universal Music Brasil (successor to PolyGram), as part of the 'Tudo' (Everything) reissue series, which collected fourteen Possi albums including the original covers and liner notes (Discogs r8360055 documents this 1996 CD). The album is available on digital streaming platforms through the Universal Music Brasil catalogue. Tracklist (14 tracks as per Vagalume): 'Melodia Sentimental', 'Béradêro', 'Filho de Santa Maria', 'Olho de Peixe', 'Mais Simples', 'Um Beijo Meu', 'Se Meu Mundo Cair', 'Explode Coração', 'Mundo Cruel', 'Eu Quero um Samba', 'Só Pra Chatear', 'Provei', 'Brasil', 'Juízo Final'.
c) Production
The album was arranged by a quintet formed by Jether Garroti Jr. (piano and musical direction — Possi's collaborator since Valsa Brasileira), and four other musicians. Jether Garroti Jr. had been Possi's primary instrumental collaborator since Valsa Brasileira (1993); his minimalist, jazz-inflected pianoSpecific co-production or engineering credits beyond the arranger quintet are not documented in available English-language sources.
d) Recording
Recording took place in Brazil, consistent with PolyGram Brasil's production infrastructure, in 1995–1996.
e) Reception
Mais Simples received positive critical and popular reviews, continuing the trajectory of critical acclaim that had begun with Sobre Todas as Coisas. The Brazilian press was enthusiastic: A Tribuna (31 July 1996) published a review titled 'Zizi Possi, melhor e mais simples' (Zizi Possi, better and simpler); Folha de Boa Vista (October 1996) praised the album under the headline 'Zizi Possi canta belo repertório' (Zizi Possi sings a beautiful repertoire); Pioneiro (13 July 1996) described Possi as 'o crista puro na voz de Zizi Possi' (the pure crystal in Zizi Possi's voice); and Folha de S.Paulo (9 August 1996) called the show associated with the album 'Zizi Possi extrai refinamento da simplicidade em novo show' (Zizi Possi draws refinement from simplicity in new show). Slipcue.com describes the album as having Rodolfo Stroeter's arrangements framing 'Possi's voice better than her stuff in the 80s', though finding the arrangements 'pretty saccharine' in places. AllMusic classifies it under 'Brazilian Jazz', 'Global Jazz', and 'MPB / Brazilian Traditions'. The album was followed by Per Amore (1997, Italian-language) and Passione (1998), which together sold over one million copies and represented a major commercial breakthrough.
Zizi Possi
Maria Izildinha Possi (born 28 March 1956, Bras neighbourhood, São Paulo, São Paulo state, Brazil), known professionally as Zizi Possi, is a Brazilian singer, actress, and occasional composer of Italian descent (her grandfather emigrated from Naples to Brazil at the age of 15). She began studying piano and singing at the age of five. She later studied musical composition in Salvador, Bahia, before returning to São Paulo and becoming involved in theatrical work. She recorded commercial jingles before moving to Rio de Janeiro, where producer Roberto Menescal introduced her to PolyGram/Philips. Her recording debut came as a guest on Chico Buarque's 1978 self-titled album, singing the duet 'Pedaço de Mim', which became a major hit. Her first solo album followed in 1979. Throughout the 1980s she achieved widespread popularity with romantic pop ballads. In 1990 she left PolyGram, returned to São Paulo, and pursued a more independent, intimate direction: the albums Sobre Todas as Coisas (1991, Eldorado), Valsa Brasileira (1993, Velas), and Mais Simples (1996, PolyGram) defined this new phase and earned critical consensus as her finest work. Valsa Brasileira won her the APCA Melhor Cantora (Best Female Singer) award for 1993. In 1997 she released Per Amore, a commercial success driven by Italian-language material; the follow-up Passione (1998) continued in this direction, together selling over one million copies. Her 2000 album Puro Prazer received two Latin Grammy nominations. In 2003 she received the Premio Carosone Internazionale in Italy for her interpretations of Neapolitan songs.
This text was generated by Claude (Anthropic). It may contain errors or inaccuracies.