Cape Verde music reviews

IF CESARIA EVORA IS THE QUEEN FROM CAPE VERDE...BANA IS THE KING FROM THE CAPE ISLANDS...I WISH HE WOULD CUT ANOTHER CD FAST. BUY GIRA SOL IT'S SUPERB. JUST CAN'T STOP LISTENING TO HIS MUSIC & SUPERB VOICE.

I actually met Bana when I was in Cape Verde. His voice is very unique and traditional. The songs that he sings talk about life in Cape Verde. If you like music from Africa, this is a must for your music library.

My head still rings from seeing her in Vilnius last night. It was an incredible treat having her come and sing to an audience she held in the palm of her hand. Cesaria has had a long and storied career, with her success coming too late for her to really enjoy. She had to be helped onto the stage, but the Barefoot Diva stood through out the performance, taking a short smoke break, as her young band treated the audience to a lively Salsa piece. She seemed visibly moved by the strong reaction of the audience, which showered her with flowers after a wonderful encore.

At 63, she keeps putting out the albums but this live performance remains the most magical of her albums in my collection. It moves between melancholy mornas and lively samba rhythms, without missing a step. So many favorites on this remarkable CD, but I particularly enjoy Papa Joachin Paris and Sodade. She gives the latter a heartfelt quality that speaks of the long road she has taken to become one of the leading voices in World Music. It is a lovely ballad, apparently derived from her Cabo Verde roots, but made famous in the 70's by Angolan superstar Bonga. Anyway, you will enjoy this CD from beginning to end. Seventy-two minutes of wonderful music that makes you really feel as though you were there at the Olympia.

One can only voice regret at Ms. Evora's relatively late entry into the recording world, as all of her discs have a smoldering intensity and beauty that reveals a seemingly endless cache of ideas. Hence, this creates an insatiability in her fans for ever more recordings. Of all to date, A L'Olympia rewards the most--being the longest. An exemplary performance, and the songs! The shimmering "Reanima," a haunting "Papa Joachim Paris," two great versions of "Angola," and the finale "Sodade," are in need of no further explanation. Like most of her records, this is with traditional orchestration, unlike the odd "modern" production touches Ramiro Mendes added to much of her earlier "Destinho De Belita," presumably to introduce Evora to the French pop market.

We can only hope many more records flow forth from Cape Verde--the thought of a prolific sampling on the order of, say, Coltrane, is dizzying.

Six out of five stars. From the first time I heard Drexler's "Eco" I was hooked. This disc features Euro-fusion pop with pulsating back rhythms accompanied by Jorge's smooth, melodious voice. One listen and you'll be hooked too!

If you like Jorge Drexler's work, you are gonna love this album.
If you don't even know him, there's a great artist waiting for you.

Jorge Drexler sings!! Jorge Drexler writes!! Jorge Drexler does not stop there in the boring Trova style. He goes way beyond, adding loops and electronic sounds. A sort of Joao Gilberto meets Paul Van Dyke meets Maxwell.
Candombe with scratches in "Tamborero". Chacareras with punk guitars in "Crece". II-V-I progressions with lovely lyrics about desire and a catchy groove in "Horas". "Causa y efecto" is a beautiful ballad with an R&B feeling with a spice of Luis A. Spinetta (legendary musician from Argentina). He has definitely something to say about the craziness of this world on "El pianista del guetto de Varsovia"
If you like good music you cannot lose with this CD. As a musician I feel releived to know there's an artist such as Jorge Drexler and producers such as Juan Campodonico (or should I call him CampoSonico?). Keep it up guys!!

There are so many compilations out there, and this is one of the best. Regardless of how "important" or "representative" the songs chosen here are, they all sound great! A wonderful addition to any world or African music collection, and great for a beginner in African/world music!

This album is the sixth in a series of introductions to the world's great musical traditions. Each volume is built around a geographical theme and produced by an acknowledged expert in that area.

The African journey commences in Algeria and then heads South, stopping off in Cape Verde, Senegal, Guinea, Mali, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Gabon, Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Madagascar, before terminating in South Africa. The 14 tracks are representative but slightly atypical of their regions; most share a semi-acoustic yet modern and edgy esthetic. While a single CD cannot possibly showcase the music of an entire continent, these examples are a good way to get acquainted - or reacquainted - with Africa's stunning musical diversity. The set culminates in a moving rendition of the South African national hymn "Nkosi Sikilele I'Afrika," as performed by the Imilonji Kantu Choral Society, who sang it at former President Nelson Mandela's inauguration.

Fantastic music. The best of Cape Verde, and that is saying a lot. The two vocals are evocative. A pity Travadinha made only one recording.

This Album is one of my all time favorites. Travadinha's playing is exquisite and the songs beautiful. Played this cd so many times I had to buy a second one as my first got scratched. If you like the sound of mournful violin and acoustic guitar with a cape verdean twinge this album is a must.

Travadinha is a well known musician in Cape Verde for his mastery of the fiddle in the two genres of music of tradicional music: mornas and coladeras.

This recording allows you to dance at the sound of the coladeras and to listen to the beautiful sound of the mornas. It is a must for anyone who appreciates this kind of music. I would even recommend it as a way to introduce someone to Cape Verde music (not forgetting of course Cesaria �vora), I am sure that they will love it.

This was the second CD I bought and got a 3rd one within less than a month. I don't believe it is possible to say which is her best disc, or song. The songs bring all of Cape Verde's culture and the mellodies certainly garantee very peacefull and relaxing moments. There's much more to explore and if you ask me I would say, buy all the CD's!

Oh how I love Cesaria! As always when I visit Barnes & Nobles I go to the International music section. As my eyes scanned the wide selection of world music, Cesaria's face stood out. This woman reminds of Celia Cruz -love her too, may her soul rest in peace -I said to myself and I bet she's a wonderful singer. All I needed to hear was the song "Sodade" and that was it. I fell in love with Cesaria's music. Like Celia Cruz she has the voice that captures your attention and sends chills down your spine - so electrifying it's beautiful! I currently one three of Cesaria's albums - THe Very Best of, Cabo Verde, and Voz D'Amor! THe next albums I want to get are Sao Vincente di Longe and Cesaria!
For the past few months I've been listening to Cesaria's music more than anyone elses! I can relate so much to the lyrics of her music and the style being that I'm from the Caribbean. I feel as if I've also lived the Capeverdian experience! I would like to visit someday! Viva Cesaria a reina da morna!

Always equalizes with herself, Cesaria Evora did not lose anything of her voice. This new album proves how much her repertory is single. A team of musicians except par. Lyrics and compositions quite elaborate. The ambassadress of the music of Cape Verde does not have the gift to weary. But well rather to attract more people in search of "ever heard". Of the 14 titles of this disc, one cannot have preference. Let you go and you will not stop listening to the disc. So much it is deep and hanging.

If you like soukous or zouk, or are interested in pan-African music, or like to jump around, this is your album. The high energy tracks have great arrangements, and the beats are non-stop. The style on the album is based on the makossa, and features some great tracks by the King, Sam Fam Thomas. It is a hybrid of different types of modern African pop from the 80's (compilation came out in early 1990's), fusing soukous guitar licks, horn arrangements, and the electro-synth Caribbean zouk rhythm, which was popular in France and West Africa in the 1980's and early 1990's. This album is perfect for dancing, parties, workouts, and just about anything. It is among the best African pop compilations I have ever heard, with really catchy melodies and tempos that make you want listen to it over and over. If only all world music releases could be this good.

One insomniac night in 1995 listening to BBC World Service I heard a track which made me sit up & glue my ear to the muffled MW signal to desperately catch the name of the artist. Remember that feeling?! I scribbled it on piece of paper & ordered the album the next day. It was from 'New Moon' by Abdelli, a Berber musician exiled in Belgium. If you can wear out CDs, my copy needs at least a buff-up with the Brasso. So at last, 8 years later, more music from this man with the one-off voice. 'New Moon' had a character all its own, combining rhythmns and scales from an ancient tradition with contemporary keyboards and western instruments. Above it all, Abdelli's soaring, imploring voice as the extraordinary commonality. 'Among Brothers', 3 years and 4 continents in the making has quite a different character. It eschews overt western sounds for a broader, richer palette of strings, woodwinds, reeds & percussion, recorded outdoors in many cases using specially-developed microphones. The result is a more diverse-sounding album but with a new edge of colours and sounds. I would also say with more consistent, developed material than 'New Moon'. It is, in truth, a fantastic recording, full of the detail Peter Gabriel hints at but here it's all real, from a real world. Neat eh? I know I'll play this record for years. How can you put a price on music like this? In a world where 'soul' music now lacks that very essence, music like this created with such love, joy, sadness, yearning & fun is literally priceless. Thanks to all the 'brothers' who played on this; thanks Thierry Van Roy for producing & playing, and thanks again Abdelli for your eternal voice.

Atahualpa Yupanqui, the immortal father of Argentina's folk music, demonstrates in this CD how his music does not need lyrics to become a poem. This delicious CD gathers an amazing collection of Don Ata's best instrumental guitar pieces. I can't stop enjoying "Triste No. 5." If you are on the right mood you'll find yourself looking away, perhaps longing for those long gone childhood years. If his Argentine upbringing conforms the platform where Don Ata builds most of his themes, sometimes there are those Bachian undertones. Of course Bach's "Jes�s Alegr�a del Hombre" demonstrates his admiration for JSB, but this admiration pervades even in "Estudio la gota de agua" or "Canci�n del Abuelo No. 2." You'll see why many of my Argentinian countrymen still think that Don Ata never died and never will. CD's like this, will prevent that from happening.

Good music, indeed, but be careful. I would recommed her "Anthologie: Mornas & Coladeras" (double CD) better.

Cesaria delivers, conquers, enchants... she's just inspiring. If anything comes aout of this CD is the realization that you must hear her live. For for the unfortunate of us who have not had such opportunity, this compilation is a wonderful way of getting to know great singing.

This compilation of Cesaria's songs brings many successes of her most famous CD's, such as Cafe Atlantico. Her voice is just amazing and with the rythmin makes you feel as if you were on one of those beaches of Cape Verde. This is more than recommended, specially for the ones that are planning to buy the first CD of this singer.