This programme profiles the Brazilian pianist and singer Tania Maria. Her style combines jazz, energetic Latin rhythms, and other characteristics of Brazilian music; she often scat-sings in unison with a piano line. In her early work she was influenced by Oscar Peterson and Nat King Cole; after she began an association with the record label Manhattan her music took on a more commercial orientation and came to include elements of pop, funk, and rock.

Born in Sao Luis, Brazil, on 9 May 1948, Maria studied classical piano from the age of seven. After recording five albums while still in her teens she moved in 1974 to Paris, where she played for seven years in clubs and made recordings for French and Dutch labels. She performed in 1975 at the Newport Jazz Festival, moved in 1981 to the USA, and settled in 1983 in New York. Her recording Come with me (1982) sold particularly well.