Ithamara Koorax

Ithamara Koorax (born April 28, 1965) is a Brazilian jazz and pop singer. For several years, she was voted one of the best jazz singers of the world by DownBeat Readers Polls. In 2008 and 2009, Koorax placed third on the "Female Vocalist" category on the 73rd DownBeat Readers Polls, with Diana Krall on the first place and Cassandra Wilson on second, (DownBeat's December 2008 issue, page 44), as well as on the 74th Annual Readers Poll (December 2009 issue, page 42).

Back in 2002, Koorax had already placed fourth in the 67th Annual DownBeat Readers Poll (December 2002 issue, page 56).

Koorax once again appeared many times as one of the top singers from the 65th DownBeat Readers Poll (December 2000, page 54), to the 77th Annual Readers Poll (category Female Vocalist, page 60), receiving similar acclaim in magazines from the UK (Jazz Journal), France (Jazz Hot), Japan (Swing Journal), Korea (Jazz People) and Switzerland (Jazz 'n' More), among others. In the January 2012 issue of DownBeat magazine (page 48, list of "Best CDs of 2011", her album "O Grande Amor", recorded in Europe with the Peter Scharli Trio, was voted one of the best releases of 2011, receiving a four and one half raving review. In the January 2008 issue of DownBeat (page 54, list "Best CDs of 2007"), her "Brazilian Butterfly" album was voted one of best releases of 2007, receiving a 4-star review.

Early life She was born to a family of Polish Jews who fled Europe during World War II. In her youth Koorax studied piano, opera, and classical music while listening to her parents' collection of Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Dave Brubeck, George Shearing, and Teddy Wilson.

Discography Luiza (Victor, 1993) Rio Vermelho (Imagem, 1995) Red River (Paddle Wheel, 1995) Ithamara Koorax Sings the Luiz Bonfa Songbook with Luiz Bonfa (Paddle Wheel, 1996) Wave 2001 (Paddle Wheel, 1997) Almost in Love (Imagem, 1997) Bossa Nova Meets Drum and Bass (Paddle Wheel, 1998) Serenade in Blue (Milestone, 2000) Cry Me a River (Huks, 2001) Someday (Huks, 2002) Amor Sem Adeus: The Luiz Bonfa Songbook (Huks, 2002) Love Dance: The Ballad Album (Milestone, 2003) Autumn in New York with Jurgen Friedrich (JSR/EMI 2004) Brazilian Butterfly (Irma, 2006) Tributo a Stellinha Egg (CEDEM, 2007) Obrigado Dom Um Romão" with the Peter Scharli Trio (TCB, 2008) Bim Bom: The Complete Joao Gilberto Songbook with Juarez Moreira (Motema, 2009) O Grande Amor with Peter Scharli (TCB, 2010) Got to Be Real (Irma, 2012) Opus Classico (Arte Nova, 2013) Ecstasy (Jazz Vision, 2013) Ithamara Koorax Sings Getz/Gilberto (Jazz Vision, 2013) All Around the World (Jazz Vision, 2014) Sings the Jazz Masters (Jazz Vision, 2017) 60 Years of Bossa Nova (Jazz Vision, 2018) Samba do Dom Natural with Carlos Pingarilho (JSR/Tratore, 2023) Feel Like Making Love (JSR/Tratore, 2024) Spirit of Summer with Eumir Deodato (JSR/Tratore, 2025)

As guest Antenor Bogea, Renaitre (EMSE, 2013) Antonio Carlos Jobim, Songbook Antonio Carlos Jobim (Lumiar, 1993) Brazil All-Stars, Rio Strut (Milestone, 2002) Carlos Pingarilho, Histórias e Sonhos (JSR, 2003) Cesar Machado, Made for US (Acoustic Music, 2014) Chris Conway, Chocolate Bossa (Oblong Music, 2007) Chris Conway, Through Mirrors We Met (Aloft, 2014) David Calderoni, Dear Mom Beija-Flor (Tratore, 2022) Dom Um Romão, Rhythm Traveller (JSR/Mr. Bongo, 1998) Dom Um Romão, Lake of Perseverance (JSR/IRMA, 2001) Dom Um Romão, Nu Jazz Meets Brazil (JSR/IRMA, 2003) Dorival Caymmi, Dorival Caymmi Songbook, Vol. 1 (Lumiar, 1993) Eduardo Camenietzki, Glauber Rocha - Original Soundtrack (EC, 2021) Elizeth Cardoso, Ary Amoroso (Sony, 1990) Gazzara, Brother And Sister (Halidon, 2006) Gustavo Cysne, Dive Into The Deep Blue (JSR/Tratore, 2024) Jorge Pescara, Grooves in the Temple (JSR/Tratore, 2005) Jorge Pescara, Grooves in the Eden (JSR/Tratore, 2018) JSR All-Stars, Friends from Brazil 2001 (IRMA, 2001) Lou Volpe, Undercovers (Jazz Guitar Records, 2006) Marcelo Salazar, Tropical Lounge Project (JSR, 2005) Marcos Valle, Songbook Marcos Valle, Vol. 1 (Lumiar, 1998) Mario Castro-Neves, On a Clear Bossa Day (JSR/Rambling, 2004) Mario Conde, Guitarra Brasil Universo (Gramofone, 2011) Orquestra Petrobrás, Pró-Música (OPPM, 1998) Paula Faour, Cool Bossa Struttin (JSR/Paddle Wheel, 2001) Rodrigo Lima, Saga (JSR, 2014) Rodrigo Lima, Apenas Meninas - Original Soundtrack (HBO, 2021) Rodrigo Lima with Ithamara Koorax, Espelho Solar (JSR, 2022) Rodrigo Lima with Ithamara Koorax, Espelho Solar - Radio Edit Single (JSR, 2023) Thiago de Mello, Amor Mais-Que-Perfeito (Ethos Brasil, 2006) Thiago de Mello and Dexter Payne, Another Feeling (Dexofon, 2007) Vinicius de Moraes, Songbook Vinicius de Moraes Vol. 2 (Lumiar, 1993)