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Rosanna & Zélia originate from the Brazilian state Minas Gerais. The two women started playing music together at the age of 14 and made appearances at small concerts in theatres and festivals. Their subsequent studies at a contemporary-avant-garde-music school were the last step in their preparation for a full-time career in music.
In 1985 - 86, Rosanna & Zélia formed the acoustic project "Break Tupiniquim" with two other musicians, combining Afro-Brazilian influendes with Pop.
In 1987 Rosanna & Zélia were invited to Portugal by some Brazilian musicians where thy spent one and a half years and travelled the country from north to south. During this sojourn they were enganged for a tour in Finland, where the went through a whirlwind succession of live concerts, TV appearances and radio interviews. After this resounding concert they were immediately reengaged for a four month Finnish tour, gave 60 concerts and recorded their record "Baiã da Luna" (Mau Mau Music 1990).
After this interesting experience the two decided to come to Germany. In 1991 they founded the project "Banda Caja". creating a mixture of Brazilian music, Jazz and Pop with five other musicians. In 1993 they appeared for the first time on CD live in the Brotfabrik in Frankfurt entitled "Contra O Mau Humor" - Music to counter a bad mood.
The two women are very open to new European influences and have participated in a variety of collaborations with other artists - one with the famous German actor Heinz Rühmann and the One World Gospel Chor, another with the Frankfurt dance music specialist Stefan Hantel ("Shantel") in 1995, bringing new grooves and melodies to German trance music. In 1996 they joined the 12 piece international music project "Expedicion" which serves up a cocktail of African music, Brazilian melodies and Jazz.
At the same time they continued to work on their own musical concept. Particularly their encounters with non-Brazilian musical cultures have enabled them to develop their own very personal style evident on their CD "Passagem" (Peregina Music 1996).
During the recording for "Passagem" the two charming Brazilians managed to win the hearts of such well known jazz musicians as he Argentinian bandoneon Dino Saluzzi and the bassist Jorge Degas. They also consolidated their collaboration with Brazilian percussionist and drum player extraordinaire, Angela Frontera, who is now more or less a fixture in the Rosanna & Zélia line-up.
In 1997 they took the "Passagem" concept on the road through Europe, including a week in Paris, three weeks in Geneva and a two week tour in germany with the hardp(Hamonoca virtuoso Howard Levy, who usually plays in the Rabih Abou Khalil formation and also fell victim to the magic of the "Passagem" CD and its originators. Highlights of this tour included appearances in Zürich ("Women's Voices of the world"), "Solo virutoso" in Gelsenkirchen, The Old Opera House in Frankfurt and the Ludwigsburg Jazz Days.
Their latest album "Coisário" (peregrina music, 1999)continues the journey they embarked on in "Passagem". Rosanna & Zélia invited several new musicians to the recordings, adding to their musical and emotional range of expression. While other stars of popular Brazilian music make use of electronic effects, Rap and Club Groove sound, Rosanna and Zélia enhance their music with the instruments of their guests like Claudio Putin (cl) or Howard Levy (hca). Katharina Franck ("Rainbirds") added her voice to a duo with Rosanna.

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