“..The journey in which Ara's Circle took the audience was unforgettable – a wide palette of Latin jazz music and tunes that won’t leave your head for a long time after the performance. Maria's voice brought such warm feelings that no one wanted to leave after the performance..”
- Saulkrasti Jazz Festival Review by Ieva Kalnina
About Ara's Circle's Album: 'That's it!':
“..Maria Fernandez Alvarez has a sensuous voice that she uses to curl around the notes sending them in to rhapsodic ecstasy..”
“..These two musicians (Arndt Beckman & Maria Fernandez Alvarez) put an infectious charm on the rest of the ensemble making it impossible for the rest of the musicians to resist the beguiling and delightful music. Such a maddeningly beautiful reaction from the musicians of a group may not be so rare, but the effect that Mr. Beckmann and Ms. Alvarez have on bass drums, and brass and woodwinds is extraordinary. This has a dramatic chain reaction producing music that is gorgeous and unforgettable..”
- - Raul da Gama, for The Latin Jazz Network, Toronto, Canada
LJN Canadian Editor. Based in Milton, Ontario, Canada, Raul is a musician and an accomplished writer.
"..Maria Fernandez Alvarez proved her exquisite musicality.."
- Wolfgang A. Müller, Münsterische Zeitung,
Newspaper of Münster, Germany
with Ben Bönniger on drums, Oskar Otto on Bass & Peter Kräubig on piano
USA tour with ZaP MaMa:
"..the other female singers in the group (Maria Fernandez, Lene Christensen and Judith Okon) are no slouches. They are not just backing singers, they have a real interplay with Daulne as the team move in synchrony across the stage. Here is a group whose emphasis is vocal, their voices are the instruments teasing the audience with a sound that is at once Hip Hop and funk. They are a group that relies only minimally on the occasional accompaniment of guitar and keyboard.."
- Dorothy Johnson-Laird for World Music Central.org About Zap Mama's performance at Global Fest, Webster Hall, New York CIty
________________________________________________________________________
"..the exciting Afro-European vocal quintet, Zap Mama. Marie Daulne is the leader and founder of the a Capella group. The strikingly beautiful Daulne,
along with her talented singers melted the hearts of many, infusing Afro-pop, urban, jazz, alternative funk and soul music.."
"..“Zapping” the crowd to a different place, the group definitely took me to a whole new world with their harmonies and beat-boxing. I found myself
tapping my foot to the funky beat and scat singing. My favorite song is “African Sunset.” It is filled with tongue-and-teeth clattering vocals and percussion. This track definitely got the crowd
bobbing their heads and kicking their feet. Daulne and her ladies surprised the audience with a dance routine comprised of sensual hip movements as they transitioned to an upbeat and exciting
track.."
- Flor-Ann Estiler for fdrmx.com
Webster Hall - New York City
"..Maria Fernandez Alvarez wowed the audience.."
".. Maria puts all her feeling into the introspective ballads,
but she also has an explosive side.."
-Axel Engels, Münsterische Zeitung,
German Newspaper
Concert with the Bluesnight Band
With The Jamal Thomas Band:
"..'Future'; the title track. Maria Fernandez Alvarez suits the song perfectly, the music fits her. A great song, a great singer.."
- Chocolate Music
"..A (backing) choir full of old school Soul & R&B.."
(with Maureen Fernandes)
- MDR
"..The song "Future" is in the best of hands with Maria Fernandez Alvarez, or more precisely; the best of voices.."
- Dennis Hahn, BERLIN MAGAZINE
With pianist Norman Peplow:
“… Refreshingly original arrangements…”
“…A voice we will hear much more of…”
- Ton Ouwehand – Tubantia (Dutch newspaper)
“...So few people, so much music!...”
“…Maria: What a voice and power!...”
- Jury Semi-finals “Artez Holland Casino Jazz Competition”
“...Superb singing with which the piano forms a perfect unity…”
“...Fernandez & Peplow are capable of seducing the audience to take
part in their musical adventure…”
- Jury Final “Artez Holland Casino Jazz Competition”
"…With her beautiful voice she entranced the public through her
moving story, and was able to give a very beautiful performance..."
“…A very personal performance; Maria is someone who needs no
scenery…”
- Jury Final “Prix du Port”
“…Maria; her whole being breathes music. During her performances she
keeps her audience captivated, both through her vocal expression and
body language…”
- Marja Reinders, vocal teacher at Artez Conservatory, The Netherlands
“…Maria Fernández Álvarez sang gently flying and highly expressive,
melancholic á la fado and slightly flirting…”
“…Through vocal variation and her nearness to the audience she
managed to bring across the message of the songs…”
- Ingmar Winter, Münstersche Zeitung (German newspaper)
“…This Spanish singer with the warm voice counts as a rising young
star in the Latin Jazz scene…”
- Rheinischer Anzeiger (German newspaper)
With Maureen Fernandes
& Dwayne Lace:
"..they prove that they can really sing.."
- 3 voor 12 lokaal, vpro