Italian-Brazilian artist Mafalda Minnozzi, Ambassador of Italian Song in Brazil and recipient of the Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy, drops “A Felicidade / Consolação,” a powerful interpretation of the classic composition by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes.
Rooted in the golden era of bossa nova, “A Felicidade” receives a more visceral Afro-Brazilian treatment through the expressive guitar work of Paul Ricci. The track also incorporates an interlude from “Consolação,” written by Vinicius de Moraes and Baden Powell, creating a seamless musical dialogue between two compositions that explore sadness, longing and the search for emotional release.
Mafalda’s jazz-infused vocal delivery brings a deeply expressive quality to the song. As the performance develops, her improvisation builds into a powerful crescendo, transforming the atmosphere from melancholy toward a celebration of life and resilience.
The arrangement is enriched by the vibrant piano improvisations of Art Hirahara, the acoustic bass of New York jazz legend Harvie S, who has performed with artists including Stan Getz, Chick Corea and Pat Metheny, and the dynamic percussion of Rogério Boccato.
Recorded in New York, one of the world’s great jazz capitals, “A Felicidade / Consolação” has already earned regular rotation on WBGO, a leading jazz radio station known for its influential programming.
With more than four decades of artistic activity across Italy, Brazil and the United States, Mafalda Minnozzi continues to build musical bridges between cultures. Through “A Felicidade / Consolação,” she brings together bossa nova, Afro-Brazilian rhythms and jazz while continuing her longstanding artistic mission of connecting different worlds through music.
