Mafalda Minnozzi - Riofonic

​Mafalda Minnozzi

Riofonic
self-released; 2025

​​By ​Dino DiMuro​​

From the heart of Brazil comes the exotic and talented Mafalda Minnozzi, a singer-composer who melds vocal virtuosity with jazz for a loyal international audience. Her fourth album for the American market is titled RIOFONIC, recorded in Rio de Janeiro. Minnozzi's had 30-year partnership with New York guitarist, arranger and producer Paul Ricci, who calls RIOFONIC an "anti-production" thanks to its laid-back, homegrown aesthetic. Ricci even named the album, a combination of stereophonic (for the retro quality) and the sound of Rio. "It's an attempt to create a new kind of vintage approach." 

This album is Minnozzi's homage to the people of Rio and their music. "I wanted to give back to Rio de Janeiro everything that I have learned, absorbed and experienced after 30 years of living in Brazil with musicians and the beautiful, live spirits on the stage." It came together after a chance grouping at a Copacabana club with Roberto Menescal, a pioneer of bossa nova, along with the number one pop-alternative-experimental DJ-producer in Brazil on bass. They decided to go into the studio the following week to make the record. Menescal played acoustic guitar on 10 of the 14 songs, plus vocal duets with Minnozzi. Juan Cortez plays drums, but interestingly without a kick. There's also what Ricci calls "the greatest horn section I've ever played with in the studio" featuring trombone, trumpet and sax, plus a cellist. Though I love bossa nova, I'm by no means an expert, so I must thank the Joe Dimino podcast for much of my information. 


"Rio" gets us off to delightful start with co-writer Roberto Menescal playing melodic classical guitar beside Minnozzi's amazing, fluid vocals in Portuguese. Ricci is very much his match on jazzy electric guitar, atop the smart syncopated rhythms. "Corcovado" is a classic song by A.C. Jobim, again sung in Portuguese (though there's English versions) with its title referring to a famous "hunchback" mountain in Rio. This is a slower and sexier track, with a delicious "scat" duet between Minnozzi and Menescal in the bridge. "Só Danço Samba" is another Jobim track, upbeat and quite danceable (I love that it sounds like Minnozzi is singing "So dance the Samba!" though it actually translates to "I Only Dance Samba," celebrating the irresistible pull of the samba rhythm. 

"Café South American Style" is the first Minnozzi and Ricci original, and has more of a Burt Bacharach quality, maybe thanks to the stellar saxophone playing top to bottom. We also get to hear Minnozzi's beautiful pipes in English! "O Barquinho" is another buoyant Menescal/Boscoli original with Menescal trading vocals with Minnozzi. You and I may be more familiar with the English Peggy Lee version "Little Boat" but this new interation is delectable! As I was playing this album around the house, my wife said she was getting "Girl From Ipanema" vibes... and here it is! "Garota de Ipanema" is famous for the Stan Getz original, the second most-recorded pop song in history after "Yesterday." Impossible not to love this song, but the crack arrangement among the guitars, horns, syncopation and come-hither vocal by Minnozzi strikes gold. "Se É Tarde Me Perdoa" (Forgive Me If I'm Late) is a classic by Lyra/Boscoli originally recorded by Quincy Jones, and really takes the horn section on a workout. At the point, do I need to even mention Minnozzi's stellar vocals?

There's many more tracks here, even more amazing when you consider how quickly and easily this project came together. Perfect music for listening, driving or just vibing to the past. Love it!

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