Evora, Cesaria
Cafe Atlantico (2lp)
A native of the island nation of Cape Verde, Cesária Évora was known as the country's foremost practitioner of the morna, a combination of West African percussion with Portuguese fados, Brazilian modinhas, and British sea shanties. After a short singing career in the 1970's, she returned in the late `80s with a string of fine albums. Her 1999 album 'Café Atlantico' (a reference to her home where she frequently entertained guests) is a much-acclaimed masterpiece, finding Césaria Évora venturing into more Latin American musical landscapes, as opposed to Portuguese, which dominated her previous albums. Évora draws from traditional Cuban and Brazilian music to mesmerizing effect. The music is heart-breaking and nostalgic, warm, and tragic all at once. Comes on a 2LP set on 180 gram vinyl.