Rosa Passos

Origin

Salvador, BA

Also known as

Rosa Maria Farias Passos

Years Active

1979

Genres

MPB, bossa nova, jazz

Instruments

voz, violão, piano

Biography

Rosa Passos is one of the most respected singers, acoustic guitarists, and composers in contemporary Brazilian music, internationally recognized for her refined technique and interpretation that earned her the epithet of "João Gilberto in a skirt." Born in Salvador, Rosa began her musical journey on the piano in childhood, but switched to the acoustic guitar in her teens, deeply impacted by the bossa nova of Tom Jobim and João Gilberto. Her official debut in the recording market took place in 1979 with the album "Recriação," in partnership with lyricist Fernando de Oliveira, with whom she maintained a productive collaboration over decades.

After a period dedicated to her family, she resumed her career in the mid-1980s, establishing herself as a sophisticated interpreter with the album "Curare" (1991). Her international projection gained momentum in the 1990s and 2000s, taking her music to prestigious stages such as Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. Rosa has collaborated with various exponents of music, participating in Yo-Yo Ma's award-winning project "Obrigado Brazil" and recording albums dedicated to celebrating the works of great names in the national songbook, such as Ary Barroso, Dorival Caymmi, and Djavan.

Throughout her vast discography, Rosa Passos has demonstrated versatility by moving between jazz and MPB, always maintaining the essence of the Brazilian groove. In 2011, she paid homage to singer Elizeth Cardoso on the album "É Luxo Só" and, in 2018, reinforced her facet as a composer with the self-penned album "Amanhã Vai Ser Verão," which featured the participation of Zé Luiz Mazziotti. Her work is marked by technical rigor on the acoustic guitar and vocal smoothness that make her a technical and artistic reference in Brazilian popular music.

Discography

• Recriação (1978)
• Curare (1991)
• Festa (1993)
• Pano pra Manga (1996)
• Rosa Passos, Lula Galvão – Letra & Música : Ary Barroso (1997)
• Rosa Passos Canta Antonio Carlos Jobim: 40 Anos de Bossa Nova (1998)
• Morada Do Samba (1999)
• Rosa Passos Canta Caymmi (2000)
• Me And My Heart (2002)
• Azul (2002)
• Rosa Passos & Ron Carter – Entre Amigos (2003)
• Amorosa (2004)
• Rosa (2006)
• Romance (2008)
• É Luxo Só (2011)
• Samba Dobrado (2013)
• Eu e Meu Coração (2014)
• Ao Vivo (2016)
• Amanhã Vai Ser Verão (2018)
• Paulo Paulelli, Rosa Passos – From Paulelli To Rosa Passos (2020)
• Dunas - Live In Copenhaguen (2021)
• Paulo Paulelli, Rosa Passos – Sem Compromisso (2021)
• Samba sem Voce (2023)
• Rosa Passos e Lula Galvão (2023)