Maria Maria is a Brazilian song by Milton Nascimento, written as part of a ballet about the daughter of a black slave and the legacy of slavery in Brazil. It was recorded in 1976 for the ballet Maria Maria and later released on the album Maria Maria in 2003, with a vinyl reissue in 2019. The tune sits in the MPB tradition with strong Afro-Brazilian percussion, jazz influences, and atmospheric, impressionistic textures, including spoken passages and wordless vocalizing. The theme originally had no lyrics, and Milton and Fernando Brant later wrote the lyrics for the ballet’s storyline. The recording features renowned Brazilian players such as Nana Vasconcelos, Joao Donato, Paulinho Jobim, and members of Som Imaginario, creating a cinematic and emotionally charged experience.
