About Maija

AAbout Maija

Maija will surprise you with an astounding rhythmic ear, and more importantly, horsepower to go with that ear. She also has a marvelous facility with the delicate lyricisms of the Brazilian Portuguese tongue... Mike West, City Paper.

No matter what the origin of the ballad or the setting, whether it's Ivan Lins's cautionary title track or an unusual and decidedly bluesy recitation of "I've Got to Use My Imagination," there's no mistaking the alternately tender and sultry allure of Maija's interpretations Washington Post.
In Another Lifetime, Maija performs with fervent ardor, passionate on jazz standards… Jazztimes

Maija has a slightly husky voice with overtones of Camen MacRae and Chris Connor in her singing and Sarah Vaughan in her scatting. Her CD has a swinging and seductively performed program of standards, Latin songs and a couple of surprises Maija’s voice, is an instrument  with soul, class and vitality. She's an excellent addition to the world of jazz singing… Cadence

With three critically acclaimed CDs to her credit, Maija is a veteran jazz vocalist and songwriter. Maija’s shows are frequently a standing-room only audience experience. Maija is a great interpreter of Brazilian music which has always been a centerpiece of her shows and albums. Maija was recently given the DC Leaders in Jazz Service Award by the Capital Hill Jazz Society.

At 19, after graduating from high school, she sang with Bobby Timmons at the original Bohemian Caverns in Washington, DC. Maija has performed with many jazz greats including Keter Betts, Ron Elliston, Charlie Byrd, Buck Hill, Bob Butta, Robert Redd, Chuck Redd, Tommy Cecil, James King, Wade Beach, David Kane, Drew Gress, Tony Martucci, Mike Crotty, Nanny Assis, Leny Andrade and Claudio Roditi to name a few.

Maija's first album Before We Lose Tomorrow was lauded by national jazz critics and aired on jazz stations all over the US, Japan, and on Voice of America. Cadence included Before We Lose Tomorrow as one of its Editor's Choices. In Another Lifetime was also acclaimed by critics in Jazz Times, City Paper, Cadence, the Washington Post, and many other publications. Maija followed her first recording success with In Another Lifetime, which contained some fresh new sambas written by Valucha de Castro, and the title song written by Maija Rejman. Maija’s third album, Influência do Jazz, is almost entirely in Portuguese and Spanish. Above are some excerpts from many reviews of Maija’s music.