Thursday, May 30, 2013

Desfado

Fado music is a genre of Portuguese song that traces back at least to the 1820s or 1830s. In common with the blues and other traditional music forms, Fado expresses feelings of sadness and difficulty, but the music itself can feel redemptive and affirming. Ana Moura is a contemporary practictioner of Fado and her recent recording Desfado, will help listeners to understand the continuing appeal of this music. Moura's voice is rich and warm and the mostly acoustic (guitar) accompaniment is perfect. For those who enjoy traditional singers from Dolores Keane to Cesaria Evora, Ana Moura's music will be an exciting discovery. A special treat among the beautiful Portuguese language songs is Joni Mitchell's haunting A Case Of You. Don't miss this.