Cabo Verde

Performer: Cesaria Evora
Artist: James Carter
Producer: Jose Da Silva
Distributor: BMG (distributor)

Notes: Personnel includes: Cesaria Evora (vocals); Armando Tito (guitar, background vocals); Luis Ramos (guitar); Bau (10- & 12-string guitars, violin, cavaquinho); Osvaldo Dias "Vaiss" (12-string guitar, whistle, background vocals); Jacinto Pereira (cavaquinho); Vincent Segal (cello); Gerard Mendes (whistle); Pierre Gosseze (clarinet, flute); Luis Morais (clarinet); Jacques Bolognesi (accordion); Camille Soprane (soprano saxophone); James Carter (tenor saxophone); Paulino Vieira (piano, 6- & 12-string guitars, bass, cavaquinho, background vocals); Nando Andrade, Chico Serra (piano); Ze Paris (acoustic bass); Fabrice Thompson (percussion). Principally recorded at Studios Davout, Studios Harry Son & Studios Gimmick, Paris, France. Includes liner notes by Anastasia Tsioulcas. CABO VERDE was nominated for a 1998 Grammy Award for Best World Music Album. Sure, Cesaria Evora has been the music press' world-music poster girl since her self-titled 1995 American debut, but this time, you've got to believe the hype. Evora is the undisputed queen of morna, the "Cape Verdean blues," and on CABO VERDE she continues to display her mastery of the musical tradition she grew up with. Though the album is littered with themes of loss, longing and regret, the arrangements create a lilting, uplifting contrast to the sadness and desperation of the lyrics, which are sung in Portuguese. There's not much percussion to speak of, but the syncopated acoustic guitar rhythms and lively violin riffs keep the mood upbeat even in the most disconsolate songs. Throughout, Evora's rich, warm vocals are full of emotion, but always tastefully understated.

Spin (7/97, pp.117-118) - 7 (out of 10) - "...CABO VERDE is such a superlative display of Evora's skills precisely because it isn't so slow and anguished....CABO VERDE is the session that finally carries Evora beyond her home territory, throwing a party that evokes sorrow even while purging it." Q (1/01, p.138) - 3 out of 5 stars - "...Magically voiced Cape Verde singer...in the studio in 1997..." JazzTimes (6/97, p.101) - "...Evora conveys qualities of exquisite melancholy and emotional resiliency that easily translate across cultures....the music is mostly rooted in the traditional musical values of the small West African island of Evora's heritage."

Cape Verdean songstress Cesaria Evora is a bit of a musical late bloomer; she released her first album of morna music (a combination of West African and Brazilian styles) in 1992 at age 47 and, four years later, became an international sensation. Her vocals have drawn comparisons to Edith Piaf and Billie Holiday, while her down-to-earth "Barefoot Diva" personality has won her respect the world over. From 1995 to 2003, Evora recorded numerous albums, including the acclaimed CAF� ATLANTICO and SAO VICENTE, and she shows no signs of slowing down.

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