Fabiana Cozza
- Origin
- São Paulo, SP
- Years active
- 1996
- Genres
- samba, MPB, afro-brazilian music
- Instruments
- vocals
Biography
Fabiana Cozza is widely regarded as one of the most significant Brazilian vocalists of her generation, frequently compared to legends such as Elis Regina, Elizeth Cardoso, and Clara Nunes. Born into a musical family in São Paulo, she is the daughter of Oswaldo dos Santos, a prominent figure in the Camisa Verde e Branco samba school. Her career is characterized by a deep technical rigor and a powerful stage presence, blending her training in popular singing from the Tom Jobim Free Music University with a background in journalism and speech therapy. She is currently a PhD candidate in Music at Unicamp, reflecting her commitment to the research and preservation of Afro-Brazilian cultural expressions.\n\nHer professional journey began in the mid-1990s as part of a vocal group led by Jane Duboc. She later joined Eduardo Gudin’s "Notícias Dum Brasil" project, sharing stages with icons like Ivan Lins and Paulinho da Viola. Her breakthrough occurred in the early 2000s during a residency at the "Ó do Borogodó" bar in São Paulo, which led to her debut album, 'O Samba É Meu Dom' (2004). Throughout her career, Cozza has released several acclaimed albums, including 'Canto Sagrado' (a tribute to Clara Nunes) and 'Canto da Noite na Boca do Vento' (honoring Dona Ivone Lara), the latter featuring a collaboration with Maria Bethânia.\n\nCozza's artistry extends beyond traditional samba into theatrical performances and literature. Her 2017 album 'Ay, Amor!'—a tribute to the Afro-Cuban pianist Bola de Nieve—earned her the Brazilian Music Award for Best Foreign Language Album. Her most recent works, such as the album 'Dos Santos' (2020), delve into her ancestral roots, exploring the intersections of faith, resistance, and the percussive heart of Black Brazilian music. She continues to be a vital voice in contemporary MPB, collaborating with artists like Péricles and newer generation sambistas like Moyséis Marques while touring internationally across Europe, Africa, and the Americas.