Cesaria Evora, Café Atlantico (BMG) 9+
Affectionately known as the "barefoot diva," and the queen of morna (Cape Verdean blues), Cesaria Evora has been actively recording the longest, since the late eighties. There have been many recent reissues that nicely recap her folky traditional music rooted in the small West African island of Cape Verde. For those not yet acquainted with Evora's charms, however, Café Atlantico is the best place to start. Recorded in France and Cuba, it makes use of additional non-traditional instrumentation much like Susana Baca's latest. The arrangements, however, are more like big-band, and occasionally overdo the strings and flutes ("Amor Di Mundo"). Fortunately, the syrup is kept more tastefully in the background for spryly syncopated dance numbers like "Sorte," "Carnaval De São Vicente" and "Beijo De Longe." Other styles are incorporated, including Portuguese fado, Brazilian samba and even an accordian-driven polka. "Nho Antone Escaderode" is about wild drunken times fueled by rum punch, with boisterous Afro-Cuban percussion adding to the festivities. West Africa and Cuban have participated in an informal rhythm exchange program for decades, and the latin grooves permeate much of the album. This is good news for the wide audience turned on to Cuban son by The Buena Vista Social Club film and albums. Here is something a little different that is richly rewarding, and equally danceable.
