Fernanda Cunha

Fernanda Cunha's life started auspiciously in that she was born into a musical house. She is the daughter of singer Telma Costa, who sang the song Eu te amo with Chico Buarque and the niece of composers Sueli and Lisieux Costa. Not suprisingly, her grandmother was Maria Aparecida Costa, a music teacher and a real maestro of the family.

But, as with all truly creative artists, Fernanda has made her own history.Following in her mother's footsteps, she assumed the microphone in December 1997, performing at many clubs in Rio, such as Mistura Fina, Vinicius Piano Bar, Hipodromo up, Casa de cultura Laura Alvim, Museu do telephone, among others. She was accompanied by pianists like Camilla Dias, Joao Carlos Coutinho and Helvius Villela.

In the U.S., she was invited by bassist Kip Reed to perform at Blossom Summer Festival (July 2001), Shaker Square (August 2001), Festival Latino at the world-famous Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Nightown (June and August 2002) and Fat Fish Blue. Also she has performed and recorded Brazilian standards with guitarist and Oberlin Conservatory of Music professor Michael Manderen at Sergios'in University circle. In june 2002, she invited her american friends of Grupo Brasil and Marcio Hallack (brazilian pianist) to record her first solo album, O tempo e o lugar. The CD was recorded in Cleveland at Clockwerke studios.

She released her first CD at Modern Sound, Vinicius piano bar, and Arte Clara in Rio. Fernanda also performed in her native city Juiz de fora and, subsequently, in Sao Paulo at Supremo Musical. In January 2004, she realized a dream, recording a CD with compositions by two of the most important Brazilian composers: Johnny Alf and her aunt, Sueli Costa, both of whom make appearances on the set. The album Dois corações (Two hearts) also brings together a "dream team" of musicians, as well as the arrangers Cristóvão Bastos, Joao Carlos Coutinho, Camilla Dias and Jorjão Carvalho.

Her third album "Zíngaro" recorded with guitar player Zé Carlos, was released in 2007. They play songs by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Chico Buarque. Cunha has been performing in Canada once a year since 2005 and in 2009 she is releasing a new Cd that features Canadian and Brazilian music and musicians. This CD project is a unique fusion of Canadian and Brazilian music and culture. The band is half Canadian (bassist Mike Lent ,and drummer Sandro Dominelli) and half Brazilian (Ricardo Rito on piano and Fernanda on vocals) . Special guests Ze Carlos and Sueli Costa.

Fernanda has researched the works of songwriters from both countries including Sueli Costa, Joni MItchel, Noel Rosa, Bruce Cockburn, Mike Lent and Ricardo Rito (with lyrics written by Fernand), among others, to find the right link and movement between the two countries. Her choices reflect the musical affinities between Brazil and Canada.
http://www.fernandacunha.com.br/