Cabo Verde [Expanded]

Performer: Césaria Évora
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. Cabo Verde's artwork showcases a happier C�saria �vora than on her previous self-titled album (which introduced her to North American audiences). She is pictured laughing, against light greens and blues, and the music itself is considerably more upbeat than that on her other albums (this being her second U.S. release, but her sixth overall). However, the subject matter remains as sorrowful as ever, with lyrics translating to "The sea is the home of nostalgia/it separates us from distant lands/it separates us from our mothers, our friends/unsure if we'll see them again" ("Mar � Morada de Sodade"), and "You are mine, my beloved, even in heaven" ("Bo � Di Meu Cretcheu"). Not only does �vora sing her world-famous mornas, she also gives advice against the foolishness of youth, bringing to light the fact that much of the youth of her native land of Cape Verde has emigrated, leaving the remaining population with an incurable nostalgia. The album begins with several upbeat numbers, then, after the torchy, cabaret-styled "Partida," delves into moodier, more lamenting, and more glorious ballads. On "Coragem Irmon," �vora "duets" with the tenor saxophone of American jazz great James Carter. As with all her albums, this is an excellent collection of beautiful, soul-stirring songs, brought to life by �vora's marvelous voice. A winner in every respect (also included are the lyrics' English translations). ~ Jose Promis 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."

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