The thing to remember about Sào Paolo native Mônica Salmaso is that she is the most pure singer in Brazil today. She has, from the outset of her career, possessed a voice with a remarkable clarity, which is matched by Salmaso’s formidable interpretive gift. “Iaiá,” her third album, finds the artist giving expression to a sundry collection of tunes that, as a whole, constitute a superb CD. Consider her bittersweet version of “Vingança,” a song in the toada style that tells of love found and lost. “Vingança” doesn’t just tell a story; Salmaso’s vocal, supported by the brilliant contributions of Nailor “Proveta” Azevedo and Toninho Ferragutti, creates a vision. Her performance on “Cidade Lagoa,” tracked with Quintet Sujeito a Guincho, demonstrates the suppleness of her voice. This is a sly samba, but Salmaso rules it with ease. Listen to the tonal pattern of her vocal, and you’ll realize she is the most intriguing instrumental soloist on this tune. Distributed by Harmonia Mundi.—PVV
