Maria Puga Lareo, My Universe Review

by Stamish Malcuss

Maria Puga Lareo makes a striking stateside debut with My Universe, a project with movements of Brazilian, jazz, and groove-based influences. Co-produced with her husband, renowned saxophonist and L.A. studio veteran Bob Sheppard, the album features an all-star cast of musicians, including pianist Josh Nelson, bassist Mike Valerio, drummer Christian Euman, and guitarist Leo Amuedo. With lush orchestral arrangements by GRAMMY-winning composer Nan Schwartz on select tracks, the album offers an enticing blend of elegance and musical depth, showcasing Puga Lareo’s ability to infuse each song with technical precision and heartfelt expressiveness.

The opening track, “Make Someone Happy,” sets the character for the album’s lush romanticism. With delicate vocal phrasing and a whimsical, dreamy delivery, Puga Lareo breathes new life into this classic. The addition of a sweeping string arrangement enhances the song’s sense of intimate grandeur, drawing the listener into a world of warmth through Puga Lareo’s singing.

“The Song Is You” follows with an irresistible pulse that flows between Latin and swing stylings. Sheppard’s saxophone is commanding as his fills weave around Puga Lareo’s romantic vocal delivery. The way she lays behind the beat in her phrasing is very emotive. Midway through, the tune shifts into an exhilarating swing section, where Josh Nelson’s piano and Sheppard’s virtuosic solos add energy. Puga Lareo’s embellishing of the melody after the solos and her scatting during the cadence show her jazz-spirited, hard-swinging style.

The album’s Brazilian influence shines on “Depois De Tanto Tempo,” with its gorgeous Latin feel perfectly suited to Puga Lareo’s voice. Nan Schwartz’s arrangement adds an exquisite cinematic depth, supporting Puga Lareo’s phrasing as she conveys the longing in the lyrics with remarkable expressiveness. Her seamless transition from lyric-based lines to lyricless passages demonstrates how her vocals shape the emotional moments of the melodic line.

“Spring” continues the bossa-inflected elegance, unfolding like a gentle breeze with Puga Lareo’s crystalline vocals floating effortlessly above Schwartz’s rich orchestration. The melody evolves into a more rhythmically propulsive section, evoking a sense of development through timeless romance, a signature trait throughout My Universe. The vocal harmonies in the latter half of the song add to the arrangement, setting up and coloring beautiful solo exchanges from Nelson and Sheppard.

“Till the End of the World” and “We’ll Be Together Again” further highlight the album’s introspective beauty. These ballads reveal the intimate pastels that can be found on the recordings. Puga Lareo’s vocals are delivered with poise and sincerity. The former is a beautiful original composition by Puga Lareo and Sheppard. Both performances are refined and deeply affecting, reinforcing the album’s overarching themes of love and devotion.

“Cherokee” is a fiery display of vocal agility by Puga Lareo through a well-crafted arrangement by Sheppard. Tackling this jazz classic with a post-bop style and remarkable dexterity, Puga Lareo swings hard, her phrasing crisp and assured.  It’s an electrifying moment that injects an exhilarating jolt into the album’s flow as Sheppard and Nelson deliver energetic solos.

Perhaps the most unexpected turn arrives with “At the End of the Night,” a full-fledged R&B-funk jazz experience. This track is bold, brimming with energy, featuring a driving horn section, funky guitar grooves, and explosive drumming. Puga Lareo’s voice soars with authority, riding the groove effortlessly and demonstrating her ability to command a completely different sonic landscape.

Closing the album, “Eu Sei Que Vou Te Amar” returns to the intimate, featuring Leo Amuedo’s delicate guitar work and Carol Robbins’ harp flourishes. Stripped-down yet lush, the arrangement allows Puga Lareo’s voice to shine in its purest form, dripping with emotion and beauty. This stunning rendition of the Jobim classic is a poignant, heartfelt conclusion to My Universe.

Throughout My Universe, Maria Puga Lareo delivers a vocal style that is as diverse as it is cohesive. Her ability to navigate jazz, Brazilian, and R&B influences with authenticity and grace reflects her artistry. Sheppard’s co-production, masterful musicianship, and Schwartz’s exquisite orchestral touch, elevate this release into something truly special. Romantic, expressive, and deeply immersive, My Universe is an album that will reward your attention.