"My Universe is a project that shows Lareo’s ability to blend her diverse influences into a singular, distinctive style. Her jazz phrasing carries the depth of vocal greats like Sarah Vaughan, while her Brazilian influences shine in tracks like “Depois De Tanto Tempo,” where the lilting rhythm and Portuguese lyrics bring warmth and intimacy to the album. Lareo’s pop sensibility emerges in the accessible melodies of “Till The End of the World,” where her vocal line feels emotive and effortless, allowing her voice to take on a contemporary quality that draws today’s listener in."
Rudy Palma, ALL ABOUT VOCALS

"Puga Lareo’s vocal versatility is a key aspect of the album. Whether she is navigating a tender Brazilian ballad, scatting over a jazz standard, or delving into funk-infused R&B, her command of timbre, phrasing, and dynamics remains masterful. The album’s varied rhythmic shifts—from Latin grooves to straight-ahead swing—demonstrate her ability to adapt and thrive across multiple styles, giving each track its own distinct vocal character."

Sylvannia Garutch, THE JAZZ WORD

"This album is Maria Puga Lareo’s first stateside debut. She is an accomplished jazz and Brazilian music vocalist, songwriter, producer who has released three albums. Co-produced by her husband and legendary woodwind player, Bob Sheppard, they make a formidable music statement. The addition of a stunning orchestra to this production brings beauty and class to her first American album release. Lareo sings with ease in both Portuguese and English, sharing compositions by legendary Brazilian composers like Dori Caymmi and Antonio Carlos Jobim. She also tackles jazz standards, including Ray Noble’s “Cherokee.”
Dee Dee McNeil, MAKING A SCENE! MAGAZINE

"This gloriously sumptuous new recording, opens on the languishing beauty of Make Someone Happy and the free flowing The Song Is You, and after a quick, minute-long intro, the whole, atmospherically low slung track Depois de Tanto Tempo is brought forth, and is backed by the delicately-hued Spring.
Along next is the all-embracing Till the End of the World and that is in turn followed by the spirited Cherokee, a dutifully inhabited, horn-imbibed We’ll Be Together Again, the album rounding out on the soulful R&B jazz of At the End of the Night, closing on the delicate Eu Sei Que Vou Te Amar."

Anne Carlini, RUSSELL TRUNK’S EXCLUSIVE MAGAZINE

"Sensitive understatements are delivered by the crystal toned vocalist Maria Puga Lareo on this seductively framed mix of standards and Brasilia. She’s backed by a large and romantic ensemble that includes the likes of Bob Sheppard/wwinds, Josh Nelson/p-key, Alex Acuna/perc, Christian Euman/dr, Mike Valerio/b and Leo Amuedo/g along with an orchestra conducted by Nan Schwartz. Her delicate vibrato draws you into pieces like “Make Someone Happy” and the lithe “The Song Is You”, while she shows her funky side around Valerios’ electric bass and Sheppard’s tenor on “At The End Of The Night”. She wafts through the strings of “Depois De Tanto Tempo” and looks good in Amuedo’s nylon strings for “Spring” , saving the best for last on an intimate duet with Nelson on a lovely “Eu Sei Que Vou Te Amar”. Late night candles r."

George Harris, JAZZ WEEKLY

“Maria Puga Lareo offered up glowing-tone renditions of “Alfie,” Jobim’s “I Know I’ll Love You,” and the handsome Sheppard original “Maria’s Tango.”

Josef Woodard, SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT
Live review of Bob Sheppard Quartet feat Maria Puga Lareo, Jazz at Center Stage Santa Barbara, CA - Fri Apr 26, 2024