Joyce Moreno

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Also known as

Joyce

Years Active

1964

Genres

MPB, bossa nova, samba, jazz fusion, acid jazz

Instruments

vocals, acoustic guitar

Biography

Joyce Moreno, born in Rio de Janeiro, is a pioneering figure in Brazilian Popular Music (MPB), recognized for her sophisticated guitar playing and her groundbreaking lyrical approach from a woman's perspective. She began her recording career in 1964 as part of the Sambacana group, eventually releasing her self-titled solo debut in 1968. This early work featured her own compositions as well as collaborations with artists like Jards Macalé, establishing her as a formidable songwriter in a male-dominated scene.

Her popularity reached a peak in the late 1970s and early 1980s with the massive success of the song "Clareana" and the landmark album Feminina. Her work often blends samba and bossa nova with jazz influences, characterized by her fluid vocal style and intricate nylon-string guitar arrangements. Over the decades, she has released over 45 albums and her songs have been recorded by legendary Brazilian voices such as Elis Regina, Maria Bethânia, and Gal Costa, as well as international stars like Annie Lennox.

Beyond her musical output, Moreno is a respected journalist and author, having chronicled the history of Brazilian music in books like "Fotografei Você na Minha Rolleiflex." She also found a dedicated international audience, particularly in Japan and Europe, where her work became highly influential in the 1990s London acid jazz scene. She remains an active performer and educator, frequently collaborating with her husband, the drummer Tutty Moreno.

Discography

• Joyce (1968)
• Passarinho Urbano (1976)
• Feminina (1980)
• Tardes Cariocas (1983)
• Saudade do Futuro (1985)
• Live At The Mojo Club (1995)
• Ilha Brasil (1996)
• Hard Bossa (1999)
• Meus Momentos (1999)
• Gafieira Moderna (2001)
• Sem Você (2007)
• Joyce Moreno Featuring João Donato – Aquarius (2009)
• Slow Music (2009)
• Visions of Dawn (2009)
• Samba Jazz & Outras Bossas (2010)
• Agua e Luz (2010)
• Da Cor Brasileira (2011)
• Rio de Janeiro (2012)
• Tudo (2013)
• Cool (2015)
• Joyce Moreno • Kenny Werner – Poesia (2015)
• Raiz (2015)
• Palavra e Som (2016)
• Fiz uma Viagem (Songs of Dorival Caymmi) (2017)
• 50 (2018)
• Joyce Moreno & Alfredo Del-Penho – Argumento - Canções de Sidney Miller Ao Vivo no IMS (2018)
• Brasileiras Canções (2022)
• Natureza (2022)
• Adrian Younge / Ali Shaheed Muhammad / Antonio Carlos e Jocafi / Carlos Dafé / Hyldon / Joyce Moreno / Tutty Moreno / Ebo Taylor / Dom Salvador / The Midnight Hour – Jazz Is Dead 21 (2024)
• O Mar É Mulher (2025)
• Joyce e Tutty Moreno JID027 (2026)