Mar Azul

Performer: Césaria Évora
Engineer: Bruno Quinquet
Producer: Jose Da Silva
Distributor: BMG (distributor)

Notes: Cesaria Evora & The Mindel Band: Cesaria Evoria (vocals); Voginha (guitar); Bau (cavaquinho); Humberto (piano); Tey (percussion). Additional personnel: Ramiro Mendes (acoustic 6- & 12-string guitars); Paulinho Vieira (harmonica, piano); Luis Morais (clarinet); Morgadinho (trumpet); Toy Vieira (piano). Principally recorded at Studio Michel Ange, Paris, France in 1991. One happy consequence following the current popularity of the Cabo Verdean singer Cesaria Evora is the domestic release of her first Paris-based sessions. Last year saw MISS PERFUMADO and now we have MAR AZUL, originally recorded in 1991. Evora sings in Portuguese and while there are some surface similarites with her Brazilian cousins across the sea, most notably the soulful Maria Bethania, her style remains firmly ensconced within the fado-derived song forms of her native Cabo Verde. However, much like the Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla's Nuevo Tango, MAR AZUL updates the sound of this sultry, endlessly flowing music with keen production values and a charming use of harmonica, clarinet and trumpet as counterpoint to Evora's dignified, always-truthful singing. All of Evora's currently available albums are worth owning. But for any curious listener unfamiliar with this great world singer, MAR AZUL is a great place to start.

Rolling Stone (8/5/99, p.67) - 4 stars (out of 5) - "...one of several albums from which Evora...has acquired her glittering international reputation..." Entertainment Weekly (3/12/99, p.70) - "...a package of mellifluous Portuguese songs representing the romance of her native Sao Vicente. Evora's gift for conveying vulnerablity across language and culture is astonishing. Like Bessie Smith and Billie Holiday, she evokes thoughts of hearts won and lost." - Rating A- Dirty Linen (8-9/99, p.68) - "...glitters with gorgeous and evocative songs of longing and regret....places [Evora's] rich pipes over more traditional acoustic instrumentation..."

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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