Cape Verde music reviews

Everyone that comes over I've turned them onto my Noite De Morabeza CD...everyone loves it young and old. Agua is my favorite song. Boy Ge Mendes has a jazzy sensual style of singing to Latin, jazzy, blues and African music all rapped up in one. I'm Cape Verdean-American and I'm just getting into Cape Verdean music, ever since my niece gave me Cesaria Evora's Sao Vicente CD for Christmas yr 2000. Now I look for Cape Verdean music. I love Boy Ge Mendes, I would love to see him in concert here in the U.S.

If you love jazz and the beauty of Cape Verdean music, you will be in heaven. Mendes also works with other musical influences. But none of it is contrived; he makes it work. As an American of Cape Verdean descent, but with strong ties to Cape Verde and its culture, I feel as if he is writing for me--for those of us who live in two worlds, the children of the Cape Verdean diaspora. And, at the same time, his work, like all great work, will speak to everyone. Enjoy!

Listening Boy Ge Mendes was my first experience with music from Cabo Verde. I was highly surprised with this CD. It's incredible the music form Mendes, great chords and smooth voice that transports you to a beautiful Cabo Verde places. A must have CD.

He crecido y vivido escuchando a los Kjarkas, y ahora despu�s de 20 a�os, sigue siendo mi elixir de vida, cuando necesito recuperar esa energ�a y reorientar mis ideas los escucho y me reconforta el alma.

Los Kjarkas son como los Beatles para el altiplano y latinoam�rica, han vendido muchos discos, han dado conciertos y est�n vigentes hasta ahora, la calidad de las composiciones son fenomenales, la ejecuci�n impecable y la voz de Elmer Hermosa, Fernando Torrico son impresionantemente potentes y dulce al mismo tiempo.

Recomiendo comprar este CD, y ver� que enriquecer� su colecci�n musical. No es una analog�a descabellada compararlos con los Beatles, pero Silvio, Jobim, Los Kjarkas, Savia Andina, etc. son m�sicos expectaculares de nuestra latinoamerica.

AB

Long, long ago I heard this Bolivian group in a time when Andean music became world-wide known due to the controversial collaboration of Urubamba with Paul Simon. For us, Latin American born close to the heart of the Andes, Andean music was part of our upbringing. Among those who always stood out were Los Kjarkas. The quality of their songs rivals with the emotional mood they give off throughout their tunes. They have been criticized for the innovations they introduced in the Bolivian folklore. However, when you listen carefully, you will notice that the arrangements are extremely tasteful and add up to the beauty of the music. The range of their tunes is just amazing: from sweet huaynos to vibrant sayas. Additionally, the production of this CD is also amazing; in effect the CD displays the genuine respect of the group for their followers. In summary, this collection is another pearl in Latin American folklore.

A great compilation and a good introduction to many of these Cape Verde artist, of which we have little or any awareness. A fantastic blend of African and Portugese influences, similar to Brazilian music. If you thought the David Byrne Brazilian compilations were good then you will love this CD. Great for parties too.

This compilation album of Afro-Portugese music is wonderful. The songs are beautiful and hypnotic. Although I cannot understand the languages represented on this CD, the power of the music makes the language barrier irrelevant. I loved all of the songs, but "Mona Ki Ngi Xica" by Bonga, "Salale" by Vum Vum, and "Mama Africa" by Danny Silva were, for me, standout selections.

I have maybe 25 CDs of music from the continent, and this is still far and away my favorite. The one-disc "sampler" is like a "Best of..." -- very good, but as many listeners will know from first hand experience, some of the finer, and more subtle pieces are in the original complete recordings. True here in spades. If you only own one set of discs to represent Africa and all its nations and sounds, this is it.

If you're interested in listening to some African music and don't know where to start, you can't do better than this. It's got modern and traditional stuff on it -- mostly modern -- from all over the continent. My tapes of this set live in my cassette road case, and I listen to them when I go on long trips. The variety and quality are both excellent.

The booklet's a nice touch, too.

We love this cd! Bau's music is very moving. You can't stop listening to it. We have 4 of his cd's so far, and are always looking for more of his music. No matter what nationality you are, you can't help but enjoy the beautiful sounds of the violin, guitars, etc.

Bau is an undiscovered phenomenon--which is too bad, because this album proves the man knows how to handle a violin! The music evoked everything from a French country wedding to a bittersweet melody to bluegrass. I loved it and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good violin, some dinner party background music, or just sitting around and feeling mellow kind of music.

Hi, I'm Petey,

I would rate this cd a defanate 5 stars. the music is just so utterly brilliant and comnpelling in its way, there is a lot of fun to be get from this item

I think only it is sad that some ugly pricks sell this cd for way too much cash, the're balloneys!

Pete

Ok, all you who listen to Sonata Arctica, Led ZEPPELIN; The Beatles...or anything rock, pop, jazz, blues, country etc...

this is the father of the music you are listening to!

Everything good comes from Bolivia! I love Bolivia!

Ok, all you who listen to Sonata Arctica, Led ZEPPELIN; The Beatles...or anything rock, pop, jazz, blues, country etc...

this is the father of the music you are listening to!

Everything good comes from Bolivia! I love Bolivia!

This is one of the early Kjarkas recordings with the Lauro label. Those of which made a string albums through the 80's that were their best. Just about every song here is a classic. The cd features a variety of traditional Bolivian rhythms but with great songwriting. Combined, the instruments and singing all create a sound that is often imitated by other acts. I have this on vinyl and I must say I'm pleased with the sound on this cd. The euro label Tumi did a good job with this release.

I have many kjarkas cd's and this is one of my favorites. If you don't like the 'Americanized' andean music with the modern sound to it... you probably won't like this one. If your an andean freak and have a large collection, you will realize that the old andean music from the 60's - early 80's is the best. This is one of those. This cd also has a few famous andean songs that were first heard on this cd such as 'llorando se fue' and 'wayayay'. If you are familiar with these very well known andean songs, you will really enjoy hearing it from the original group on the first album they were recorded. A must buy for any andean music fan.

Rufino Almeida (a.k.a. Bau)'s all-instrumental CAPE VERDEAN MELANCHOLY presents a monster musician who builds his own instruments, has mastered several styles of music from swing and jazz fusion to morna (the melancholic music of the Cape Verte islands of Africa), and who plays guitar, violin and cavaquinho (known in Hawaii as the ukulele) with equal skill.

This CD is a superb blend of jazz, classical Portuguese guitar, African syncopation rhythims-by all means lsiten and enjoy! Song #6 "Toy" is my favorite.

Bau's greatest hits is recommended for anyone interested in instrumental music, whether it be jazz or anything else. The songs aren't jazz, since the song structures are fairly tight. The songs are always interesting, sometimes haunting, sometimes happy, and I usually feel better after listening to them. Bau makes the guitars and violins he plays, but I like the way he sometimes distorts the violin sound.

I found this CD for [practically nothing] at a garage sale and what a terrific find...next to Rai Medrado's "Urucum," it's my favorite CD! Fantcha's voice is captivating and the rhythm takes you away. "A unique blend of Portuguese, Brazilian and African styles" sung by a woman with a strikingly beautiful voice. If you're a world music lover, you won't be disappointed!!

What an amazing voice. I am so glad a friend recommended her. I can't get "Criolinha" off my CD player

I have been a fan of Jorge Drexler for awhile , ( thank's to a Los angeles DJ ! )and since then had bough a lot of his music.....I must say that I'm not to impressed with his latest cd. I always loved the symplicity of his music , just a guitar and few other instruments, mostly acoustic , very jazzy , like the great cd " Vaiven " or " LLueve " ,I always compared his work to some early Michael Franks work . But not on this latest one , definetly over produced , and poorly aranged , with a difinit pop direction . Don't get me wrong his voice his fabulous , and his song writing is the finest.....but just spoiled here with too much electronic arrangement !
sorry Jorge !

I was searching for tango music & came across Eco...as it's listed under the same genre. Hadn't heard of Jorge Drexler except for his Motorcycle Diaries contribution. I enjoy his voice, especially while driving--has a very calming effect on me.

This is pure poetry with music from a mixture of countries in Latin America. He is a genius. I highly recommend this album. I also love Silvio Rodriguez and Pablo Milanes with some similarities to Drexler's sound.
So soothing, it will become an album I will never get tired of.