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Like Billie Holiday, the Cape Verdean queen of morna - a slow, rhythmically balladic blend of African blues and the Portuguese fado - asked heartache to come in and set a spell. In fact, trouble and Cesaria Evora are longtime soulmates. This 1992 album (released in the U.S. in 1998) about nostalgia, longing, hit-and-run lovers, and the sea features titles like "Barbincour" ("The Conman") and "Torura" ("Torture". It went gold in France, transforming the plump grandma diva of her West African island's beachside canteens into a world-music icon. Not the least of Evora's magical appeal is that those smooth, honey-rich vocals suggest a universe of passion and pain, with nary a spasm of self-pity to break the spell.
"Ravishing is the word that springs to the lips: one of those tiresome British understatements, but it'll have to do. Evora has the most glorious voice, the melodies are heartrendingly Portuguese, the guitar-runs have escaped from a fado recording. The classic piano and string group of Miss Perfumada help explain its near-bestselling status, the near-Brazilian rhythms add the zip that tops the whole thing off."
01. Sodade
02. Bia
03. Cumpade Ciznone
04. Direito Di Nasca
05. Luz Dum Estrela
06. Angola
07. Miss Perfumado
08. Vida Tem Un So Vida
09. Morabeza
10. Recordai
11. Lua Nha Testemunha
12. Barbincor
13. Tortura
Césaria Évora: Vocals, Main Performer
Teofilo Chantre: Vocals (Background), Translation, Choir, Chorus
Celina Pereira: Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus
Titina: Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus
Paulino Vieira: Guitar (Acoustic), Arranger, Percussion, Piano, Vocals (Background), Harmonica, Cavaquinho, Producer, Choir, Chorus
Toy Vieira: Guitar (Acoustic), Choir, Chorus, Piano, Cavaquinho, Vocals
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pass: bluesmen-worldmusic.blogspot.com
This 19-song compilation features a wide variety of artists from this small but influential island off the Senegalese coast. Opening with Cesaria Evora and an early tune, "Papa Joachim Paris," the album visits luminaries like Simentera, Paulino Vieira, and Tito Paris and introduces you to many less famous but deserving names. Real roots come from the Mindel Band with a raw violin and a perpetual groove. Luis Morais's band is jazzy and fun. Voz de Cabo Verde are sweet and homey. The album closes with a live, lush, yet ragged "Lundum" by Vieira and Celina Pereira, a perfect island tune of slight melody and lots of feeling.
01. Papa Joachin Paris - Cesaria Evora
02. Miss Perfumado - Humbertona & Piuna
03. Falso Testemunho - Maria Alice
04. Partida - Djosinha
05. Boas Festas - Luis Morais
06. Otilia/Otilio - Tito Paris
07. O Bernard' - Ana Firmino & Travadinha
08. Pais Di Mel - Teofilo Chantre
09. Situacoes Triangulares - Bau
10. Fidjo Maguado - Chico Serra
11. Sina De Cabo Verde - Bana
12. Galo Bedjo - Titina
13. Cercode - Mindel Band
14. Dia C'Tchuva Bem - Simentera
15. Carinha Di Bo Mae - Voz De Cabo Verde
16. Serpentina - Bana
17. Cutch Cutch - Amandio Cabral
18. Saude - Celina Pereira
19. Lundum - Celina Pereira & Paulino Vieira
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