(30 September 2000) The debut album from M2aria is a self-titled digitalaudio music (D.A.M) compact disc available from mp3.com.

M2aria is Maria Nazarro (vocals, guitar and keyboards), Paul Opalach (bass, drums, guitar, keyboards) and Mark Bridgman (bass, guitar).The band compares their style to Tina Turner, Bonnie Raitt, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Mozart and Vivaldi). Although the band's style a distance from that normally reviewed at MusicalDiscoveries, the band and vocalist were recommended by a Musical Discoveries correspondent and have been the subject of our exploration for the past month. Vocals are mixed way up, just the way our visitors normally prefer them.

Maria indeed has a voice like Bonnie Raitt and it is most evident when the band play their R&B-oriented tracks like "Drive Me," "Waitress Song" and "Come n' Get It." Guitar work is especially notable in their arrangements. Although well played, we liked the bluesy tracks less than the others. We most enjoyed the easy rocking tunes on the album. These include "Flavor Of My Love," "Pink Blown Glass" and "Believe Me." Here Maria's voice is sweet and most evocative, soaring to reflect emotionmost evocatively, clearly illustrating her virtuosity. The band must besomething to see perform live.

Although no saxophone credits are listed on the D.A.M. package, the parts add a lovely texture to several of the tracks and the band is to be commended for including them in the arrangements. The the rocking tune "Change" and "When My Mama Rock & Rolled" work quite well and are certain to remind listeners of Tina Turner's work but with a more crystalline vocal texture. The album closes with the lovely ballad "Remember." Evocative and sensually sung vocals are accompanied by light acoustic guitar-based arrangements. It is clearlyour favourite track on the album.

You can obtain the M2aria album at the artist's mp3.comwebsite. Clearly a band that isgoing places, their debut recording is worthy of further exploration and onewe found to be a very nice listen!