photo Mathieux Lamarre

Monica Freire, Brazilian singer, guitarist, songwriter and composer, has been living in Montreal since 1993. She has performed in Canada, Brazil, Japan, France, Switzerland, Italy, Mexico, New York and St. Martin (Caribbean).

At the world renowned carnival in Salvador de Bahia, she performed with the famous Bloco Pinel (who also produced Daniela Mercury).

After a string of shows in Japan, she records her first solo CD in Tokyo in 1996 ("Monica", Samson Records), and followed that with a promotional tour throughout Japan. The album made it to the top of best sellers in the World Beat category, earning favourable reviews and enthusiastic reactions in the music industry. A second album follows in 1997 ("Monica II, Apes records).

Monica Freire is presently working on her next CD, produced in Québec and partly recorded in Brazil, notably with Caetano Veloso’s and Gilberto Gil’s percussion players. The new CD is due later this year. Monica gave a concert at Place des Arts for the 2003 Montreal International Jazz Festival, opening for Cesaria Evora (July 5th)

Monica Freire presents with her group original songs that she writes with her bass player and musical director Dan Gigon, and with Brazilian lyric writer and poet Alvaro Faleiros. She proposes modern Brazilian music in an energetic and colorful show, with 4 musicians: Dan Gigon (bass), André Martin (percussion), Tony Albino (drums) and Ric-key Pageot (keyboards). Monica is singing, playing guitar and percussion.

Beside singing her own original songs with her group, Monica Freire also collaborates with other artists:

• Karen Young, (World Woman March in New York 2000)
• the Paulo Ramos Group (Canadian tour of jazz festivals, recording of a live CD at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, back vocals on "Africa do Brasil"-winner of the Best Global Album Juno in 1997)
• Oswaldo Montes (music score for François Labonté’s movie "Les Enfants du Silence"
• "Twist Art" (tour of Quebec)
• recording of the CD "Harmonie 2000" for the Celebration of the Millenium’s show produced in Hull by Michel Lemieux and Victor Pilon
• special guest of the Montreal Jazz Big band
• Tour of Québec trough the "Réseau Scène" with Mario Chénard et Nelson Mainville
• Monique Giroux’s radio-television show "les Refrains d’abord".
• France Castel, Elise Guilbault et Sophie Faucher: Festival de Trois 2001, Maison des Arts de Laval
• Daniel Bouliane : enregistrement de musiques de film
• Sylvain et Dominique Grand : enregistrement de publicités

CDs

MONICA Samson records, Japan 1996
MONICA II Apes records, Japan 1997
MERV, featuring Monica and Carla Valet Samson records, Japan 1997

SHOWS

Montreal Jazz Festival 2003
Festival Musique en nous, Montebello
Harbourfront, Toronto
Kola Note, Montreal
Festival de Trois, Maison des Arts de Laval
Fête de la Musique, Mont Tremblant
"Réseau Scène" tour of Quebec (17 cities)
World Woman March New York 2000
Montreal Jazz Festival 2002
Festival Nuits d’Afrique, Montréal
Voyage, Salvador de Bahia, Brasil
East 21, Tokyo
Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland (with the Paulo Ramos Group)
Kukulcan Plaza, Cancun, Mexico
Pam-Pam, Juan-les Pins, France
Le Petit Prince, Zurich, Switzerland
Agada Music, Tokyo
Club Soda, Montreal (with the Montreal Jazz Big Band)
Cabaret, Montreal
Dawson Music Festival (Yukon)
Maisons de la culture, Montreal
Le Brise-Bise, Gaspé
Mercury Lounge, Ottawa
Le Dauteuil, Québec
Festijazz, Rimouski
Le Vieux Treuil, Madalena Islands
World Music festival, Levy
World Music festival, Alma
La Petite Eglise, St-Eustache

TELEVISION

Les Refrains d’abord
Monique Giroux
Tam-Tam
Les Choix de Sophie
Les Trois Mousquetaires
One hour of live music for CFCF

GRANTS

Monica Freire and her collaborator Dan Gigon receive grants from le Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec and the Canada Council to write, compose and arrange their songs.

CRITICS

"Joining Gal Costa, Joyce, Elis Regina and Bebel Gilberto in the grand tradition of great Brazilian woman singers who have achieved the honour of single-name status, Montreal’s Monica Freire will soon be known simply as Monica." Now, Toronto

" The Bloco Pinel with Monica Freire create frenzy in the streets of Salvador…" A Tarde, Salvador de Bahia, Brasil

« Monica Freire with her beautiful voice, her contagious swing and her powerful on-stage presence, assures us that her star will shine brilliantly and will bring Brazilian music to the four corners of the world. » International Press, Tokyo, Japan

" How come Monica Freire isn’t more known? She is an artist in the league of the greatest." Le Devoir, Montréal

"…a breathtaking and frenzied rhythm…" La Marseillaise, Marseille, France

« An out of the ordinary personality with a priviledged voice… » Novedades Quintana Roo, Cancun Mexico

"Her songs transform simple rhythms into an explosion of movement, while her gorgeous, velvety voice would make even the stiffest hips sway and the grumpiest face break into a smile." Capital City, Ottawa, Canada

« Quebecers are captivated by the rhythms of Monica Freire…» Journal de Québec, Canada

"Monica Freire is an authentic character. What she brings into our lives is not only the lure of exotism" Voir, Montréal

"… A magnificent sensuality… a pure moment of exquisite delight." La Presse, Montreal

"…An singer with a sensual voice…" Journal de Montréal 

" Impossible to resist the latin charm and the entrancing voice of the beautiful Monica Freire!" Le Soleil, Québec

"Monica Freire’s talent is unquestionable… She plays various instruments with composure, bewitching the audience with her unctuous voice." Le Devoir, Montreal