“Music is the universal language that brings people together. The vocalist brings life to a song, telling a story through the interplay of lyrics and melody.” ― Maria
“I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music.” ― Billy Joel
Maria Solena is an internationally celebrated jazz vocalist, recording artist, composer, and bandleader known for her warm, intimate sound and captivating storytelling. Blending swinging standards, Brazilian influences, French chansons, and original compositions, her music bridges classic jazz traditions with a modern sensibility. With a career spanning global performances and critically acclaimed releases, Solena continues to enchant audiences with a voice that is both timeless and deeply human.
Maria Solena’s music reflects a lifelong devotion to jazz—not only as an art form, but as a way of life. Her musical journey began at an early age with piano studies at the Royal Conservatory of Music. A graduate of the University of British Columbia, Solena has collaborated with acclaimed international jazz musicians and performed across Italy, Las Vegas, Denver, California, and Canada.
Influenced by legends including Nat King Cole, Nancy Wilson, and Antônio Carlos Jobim, Solena blends the timeless elegance of jazz with her own distinctive voice and contemporary sensibility. Her performances are marked by warmth, sophistication, and an intimate connection with audiences.
Through her artistry, Solena celebrates jazz’s enduring power to transcend generations, cultures, and borders. Her expressive voice and captivating stage presence invite listeners to pause, feel, and reconnect with the beauty of the moment—leaving audiences uplifted and inspired.
In 2024, Maria was selected to perform at Hermann’s Jazz Club through the Victoria Music Strategy Grant. Maria performed again at Hermann’s in 2025 and 2026 with a quartet of musicians from Victoria. Maria has composed and written a number of original songs. She has worked and recorded with arrangers Torben Oxbol, Fred Stride, Allan Rodger and Miles Black. In 2025, Maria released her 4th album “Yesterday & Tomorrow“, an original album featuring her songwriting skills. To read all the reviews on the new album, visit https://musicalbreeze.ca/
On her début album Where or When, she recorded with Richie Cole, Warren Vaché, George Robert, Krishna Booker and Phil Dwyer. “Just a Touch” was chosen as bumper music on Coast to Coast AM. Songs from the album were also featured on WAMC/Northeast Public Radio, CBC Radio across Canada, DR P1 and DR P8 Jazz in Denmark and KUVO in Denver.
In December 2013, Maria recorded “The Christmas Song” which was heard on DR P1 Radio, KUVO and CBC Radio One. In 2014 she was chosen as one of five top vocalists in “Best Vocalist of the Month” Competition, SingerUniverse, Los Angeles. In July 2014, she was interviewed by Erik Troe, host of Jazz Caravan on KUVO, followed by a live performance at Dazzle Jazz. Her second album Smile has received rotation airplay in Denver and New York while “September in the Rain” was chosen on July 3, 2015 by All About Jazz – Download of the Day.
Maria has released her third album As Time Goes By with special guests Campbell Ryga, Seamus Blake, Phil Dwyer and Lionel Young consisting of timeless gems and enduring classics by Johnny Mandel, Michel Legrand, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Johnny Mercer and Burt Bacharach. This release coincided with a performance at Five Points Jazz Festival in Denver, where she was interviewed by Rodney Franks at KUVO. She performed with her quintet on The Main Stage of Five Points Jazz Festival with special guest Richie Cole, plus Jeff Jenkins, Paul Romaine and Bijoux Barbosa.
During Maria’s visit to Italy, she performed at the Gala Dinner for the Premio Vassilij Kandinsky “Music and Color” Award, 2018 Visual Arts International Expo at Queenartstudio Gallery, at Osteria Canova, and at the Morari exhibit “dal segno alla danza dei colori”, Musei Civici Treviso. In the June 27 issue of Corriere del Sud, Maria’s latest album was reviewed by essayist and journalist Amedeo Furfaro. Shortly after Italy, Maria was invited to perform in Las Vegas with The Uli Geissendoerfer Trio. Then, she was invited to appear on The Dennis Bono Syndicated Show – From Las Vegas.
Maria is drawn to the great standards for its beautiful and timeless melodies with witty, intelligent and subtle lyrics. Some of her favourite composers and lyricists include Rodgers and Hart, the Gershwins, Johnny Mercer, Henry Mancini, Jerome Kern, Alan and Marilyn Bergman and Antonio Carlos Jobim. These are timeless songs written by some of the greatest composers of our time. It is important to learn about the history, the musical culture and to keep the beauty of this art form alive.
Maria has served as Vice-Chair of Audio Engineering Society (AES) – Vancouver Section, 2013-2016. In her spare time, she enjoys culinary arts, composing songs and lyrics on her piano, movies, fitness and traveling.
