Maria Puga Lareo, My Universe Review

by Rudy Palma

Maria Puga Lareo’s My Universe is an exploration of a vocalist who blends jazz, pop, and Brazilian influences into a cohesive and compelling experience. Lareo’s voice is the album’s centerpiece, and her nuanced control over pitch, rhythm, and timbre reveals an artist of vocal elegance. Co-produced by her husband and legendary saxophonist Bob Sheppard, My Universe features Lareo’s vocal abilities and the balanced partnership between these two artists. Together, they bring equal weight and creativity, creating a body of work that feels symbiotic and interconnected.

Lareo’s vocal approach on My Universe is characterized by her sense of pitch and fluency in various rhythmic styles. Her ability to maintain purity of tone is evident in “Make Someone Happy,” where every note lands with precision, delivering a crystalline vocal quality that enhances the romantic elegance of the piece. On “The Song is You,” Lareo exhibits her rhythmic understanding, shifting effortlessly from a Latin groove into a swinging jazz rhythmic feel. Her phrasing in both has a rhythmic character that feels alive, almost conversational, imbuing each segment of time with emotional nuance.

Lareo’s singing in “Cherokee” reveals her technical agility as she navigates the fast-paced swing classic with power and flair. The clarity and strength of her head voice shine as she tackles Ray Noble’s composition, matching the energy of the Sheppard arrangement behind her. Her rhythmic interpretation in this track is filled with subtle syncopations and interesting phrasing, allowing her to integrate seamlessly with the dynamic instrumental backing. Notice how her phrasing over the fast swing imbues the melody with a romantic touch—one that feels enriched by her Brazilian music heritage, creating a vivid blend of precision and warmth.

My Universe is a project that shows Lareo’s ability to blend her diverse influences into a singular, distinctive style. Her jazz phrasing carries the depth of vocal greats like Sarah Vaughan, while her Brazilian influences shine in tracks like “Depois De Tanto Tempo,” where the lilting rhythm and Portuguese lyrics bring warmth and intimacy to the album. Lareo’s pop sensibility emerges in the accessible melodies of “Till The End of the World,” where her vocal line feels emotive and effortless, allowing her voice to take on a contemporary quality that draws today’s listener in.

The interplay between Lareo and Sheppard on “We’ll Be Together Again” demonstrates just how well these two artists understand and complement each other. Lareo’s expressive vocal tone intertwines with Sheppard’s saxophone, creating a dialogue that is playful and musical.

Sheppard’s role as co-producer helped create an environment where Lareo’s voice could sound natural and expressive. His arrangements for “The Song is You,” “Cherokee,” and “At The End of the Night” reflect his deep understanding of Lareo’s vocal style. His carefully crafted horn sections and instrumental textures provide a supportive harmonic foundation that enriches the vocal line, creating space for Lareo’s expressive phrasing to shine. “At The End of the Night” exemplifies this as Sheppard’s horn arrangement adds a funky, soulful layer that complements Lareo’s R&B vocal approach. The project is successful because of their combined sensibilities in the album’s original compositions, “Till The End of the World,” and “At The End of the Night,” where they blend jazz romanticism with funk sensibilities, creating a rich and evocative musical experience. The interplay between Sheppard’s instrumental flourishes and Lareo’s vocal leads reveals a mutual understanding and respect, making My Universe a truly collaborative effort.

Maria Puga Lareo’s My Universe shows her artistic versatility. The album features her vocal style of jazz, pop, and Brazilian to coalesce into a singular, cohesive sound. Lareo’s vocal precision, rhythmic character, and ability to convey deep emotion through her phrasing make her performances on this album an immersive experience shaped by two artists and their creative partnership.