Maria Fumaça
Banda Black Rio
1977
Rankings
Why This Album Matters
Maria Fumaça is the acclaimed debut album by Banda Black Rio, a milestone in Brazilian music. Released in 1977, the work is widely considered one of the great national classics, notable for its innovative fusion of Brazilian samba with North American funk, a style that would come to be known as samba-funk. The album stands out for its vibrant brass arrangements, a robust percussion section and high-quality instrumental solos, elements that contributed to establishing it as a classic of Brazilian soul music.
One year later, alongside seasoned musicians such as guitarist Cláudio Stevenson, pianist Cristóvão Bastos, and drummer Luis Carlos, they recorded "Maria Fumaça", an emblematic instrumental album packed with aesthetic innovations for MPB.
Adriana Alves · Rolling Stone Brasil
Context
The formation of Banda Black Rio at the end of 1976, succeeding the group Senzala, marked a new chapter for the musicians. With a newly signed contract with the WEA record label, the band spent three months receiving a fixed salary to rehearse, honing their style and defining the repertoire that would culminate in their debut album. Before recording, the label financed a performance by the group at a dance in the Rio de Janeiro suburb, at the Olaria Atlético Clube sports court. Despite the initially lukewarm reception from the audience, who were more accustomed to DJs than live shows, WEA's director, André Midani, saw potential in the project and decided to proceed with the album's release.
Recording
Maria Fumaça was recorded in 1977 at Level and Haway studios, and released by WEA through the Atlantic Records imprint, which focused on black music artists in Brazil. The musical production was handled by Marco Mazzola, who also mixed the album, while mastering was carried out by Humberto Gatica and studio direction by Liminha. The album's visual concept is equally notable. The cover features two superimposed images of the seven members in a circle, an attempt by photographer Sebastião Barbosa to create a kaleidoscopic effect. During the second take, the camera accidentally hit Barrosinho's face, leaving a visible bump in the final image. The back cover displays a photograph of the members taken with a 'fish-eye' lens.
Songs
The success of Maria Fumaça was boosted by the exposure of the title track, which served as the opening and closing theme for Rede Globo's telenovela, Locomotivas. Additionally, two songs were released as singles for promotion: the re-recording of "Na Baixa do Sapateiro", by Ary Barroso, and the original composition "Maria Fumaça".
Once, in an interview with the American magazine Waxpoetics, dedicated to black music, Ed Motta considered Banda Black Rio as important for Brazilian soul as Tom Jobim for bossa nova. A fan's exaggeration?
Arthur Dapieve · 300 Discos Importantes
Legacy
Maria Fumaça achieved considerable commercial success, with estimated sales of over 80,000 copies, a figure considered good by the record label at the time. The album was included in the prestigious list of the 100 greatest Brazilian music albums by Rolling Stone Brasil magazine, occupying the 38th position, and the title track "Maria Fumaça" featured in 79th position on the same magazine's list of the 100 greatest Brazilian songs. Critics noted the album's influence on the careers of musicians such as Robson Jorge and Lincoln Olivetti. The album also underwent several re-releases over the years, including vinyl editions (1988, 1994, 2013), CD (1994, 2001, 2016) and LP, including internationally by Mr Bongo Records from 2016 onwards, reinforcing its permanence and relevance in musical culture.
Tracks
Credits
Arnolpho Lima Filho
Oberdan Magalhães
Jamil Joanes
Luiz Carlos Batera
Claudio Stevenson
Cristóvão Bastos
Geraldo Bongô, Luna, Nenê, Wilson Canegal
Lucio Da Silva
Barrosinho
Andy Mills, Don Lewis
Humberto Gatica
Mazzola
José Paulo Costa
Don Filó
Sebastião Barbosa
Podcasts
Obra Fechada · Marcelo Fonseca
As sociedades racistas são, antes de tudo, sociedades do medo. E medo de uma insurreição de pretas e pretos, é o que mais assombra os acomodados no poder. Da mesma maneira que essas insubordinações tornam-se heroicas, logo são acomodadas no seio da "história oficial" como algo a ser repelido. Que jamais deve se repetir. Vide Palmares, a Revolta dos Malês e o próprio Haiti. Pode parecer estranho, m
Videos
Maria Fumaça: O Clássico de Estreia da BANDA BLACK RIO | ALBUM REVIEW
Som de Peso
A MELHOR RESENHA DO ÁLBUM MARIA FUMAÇA DA BANDA BLACK RIO | React No Caminho da Música
No Caminho da Música
HISTÓRIA DO ÁLBUM #2 BANDA BLACK RIO - MARIA FUMAÇA (1977)
Rodrigo Faour Oficial
Films
Books
Os 500 Maiores Álbuns Brasileiros de Todos os Tempos
Ricardo Alexandre · 2022
The largest Brazilian music election ever conducted: 162 specialists, spanning journalists, critics, musicians, producers and podcasters, each nominated 50 essential albums, supported by a masterlist of more than 2,000 works. Led by Ricardo Alexandre with tabulation by Sérgio Jomori, it was published in December 2022 as a 200-page hardcover book with graphic design by Fernando Pires.
300 Discos Importantes da Música Brasileira
Charles Gavin, Tárik de Souza, Carlos Calado, Arthur Dapieve · 2008
Conceived by Titãs drummer and musical researcher Charles Gavin, the 434-page book brings together covers and reviews of albums released between 1929 and 2007. The texts were written by journalists Tárik de Souza, Arthur Dapieve and Carlos Calado.
Analyses
Maria Fumaça – Wikipedia
Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
Maria Fumaça – The 100 Greatest Albums of Brazilian Music
Adriana Alves · Rolling Stone Brasil
One year later, alongside seasoned musicians such as guitarist Cláudio Stevenson, pianist Cristóvão Bastos, and drummer Luis Carlos, they recorded "Maria Fumaça", an emblematic instrumental album packed with aesthetic innovations for MPB.
MUSICA&SOM: Banda Black Rio - Maria Fumaça (1977)
tabernanovostempos.blogspot.com
Maria Fumaça is Banda Black Rio in its purest form. Powerful grooves full of funk, but also samba and bossa nova, on a well-crafted LP, designed specifically for enjoying music and life.
Banda Black Rio - Maria Fumaça (1977) - br320.blogspot.com
br320.blogspot.com
Artist: Banda Black Rio Album: Maria Fumaça Year: 1977 This edition: 2001 (CD re-issue in the "Arquivos Warner" series...
Grandes Álbuns #39: Banda Black Rio - Maria Fumaça (1977) - Na Mira do ...
namiradogroove.com.br
The kings of instrumental black music reinforce the album's title in the song "Metalúrgica", showing that Rio de Janeiro, with its beaches, strong cultural presence and beautiful women, is also a city that depends on the industrial rhythm to develop.
