PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 16, 2015—To honor Brazil’s vast culture and traditions in celebration of the country’s independence from the Portuguese in 1822, Brazilian singer-songwriter Martha Luizza will help kick off Brazilian Day Philadelphia’s 2015 festivities at The Great Plaza in Penn’s Landing on Sept. 20, 2015, at 3:05 p.m. Luizza will perform several original songs including fan favorite “Vem Pra Ca” as well as various covers from Brazilian artists like Ivete Sangalo, Daniela Mercury, Caetano Veloso and the highly popular group Timbalada.
Luizza’s band members include Marcos Jacob on drums, Apoena Frota on bass, guitarist Andre Vasconcelos, percussionist Rui Balla and pianist Alcides Filho.
I would like to send an open invitation to everyone living in or passing through Philadelphia this weekend to celebrate with us the joy and wonder of Brazil. Come let the Brazilian rhythms lift your heart and soul, and let us all sing and dance together.” –Martha Luizza
Nestled within the heart of the city alongside Columbus Boulevard and Market Street, The Great Plaza within Penn’s Landing offers visitors breathtaking views of the Philadelphia skyline, Delaware River and Benjamin Franklin Bridge. Stars like Ed Sheeran, Gavin DeGraw and Colbie Caillat have all performed at this popular hotspot.
The opening ceremony starts at 1:00 p.m. and runs until 7:00 p.m., at which time DJ Erv Master will provide the event’s closing remarks.
Through events like Brazilian Day Philadelphia, the event’s organizer Project Capoeira—a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization—hopes to foster intercultural understanding and build a sense of community throughout the city.
Sponsors for Brazilian Day Philadelphia include Leblon, Dultra Productions, Alô Você Magazine, Brazilian Consulate of New York, the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation, PECO and Health Partners Plans.
About Martha Luizza
Martha Luizza—born Marta Luiza de Andrade Cardoso in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais—is a singer-songwriter known for her ability to balance the sounds of samba, the acrobatics of capoeira and the colors of carnival in each performance. With its creative mix of samba, reggae and salsa, the Bahia-based band Olodum ranks among her top musical influences from Brazil. Like Olodum, Bahia’s culture radiates through Luizza’s music with a cool, harmonically complex blend of bossa nova, axe and pop.
Since 2001, Luizza has performed at some of the top venues in South Florida, such as Nikki Beach, Revolution Live and Club Cinema. In 2006, she co-wrote the song “Perfume de Mar”—translated as “Scent of the Sea” in English—with her friend Joao Carlos Serra. The pair placed third for best Brazilian song of the year at Miami’s MPB Festival.
Luizza’s producer Felipe Tichauer has worked with some of the biggest names in music including Paulina Rubio, Mana, Christina Aguilera and Beyoncé. Raul Abramzon, who translated the work of Grammy Award-winning Brazilian singer and composer Roberto Carlos, has named Luizza’s music “The new Brazilian flavor.”
Luizza is currently performing at various venues throughout the New Jersey and New York area and has several new singles—in both English and Portuguese—in development.
###