Spirit Of Cape Verde

The music of Cape Verde came to the forefront of the world music scene when Cesaria Evora's deeply touching treatment of the minor key mornas struck a chord of longing with Western audiences. Before the arrival of the Portuguese the islands had been uninhabited, but as they became a trade stop on the transatlantic route many influences from around the world were imported, most importantly with the slave cargo brought from Africa a mere 600 kilometers away. the resulting Cape Verdean community and music became very rich and diverse, reflecting the many moods and backgrounds of the people living there in isolation from the rest of the World by seemingly endless sea. This collection of songs includes styles like Tabanca, Funana,Coladeira, and Batuco. That such a broad pastiche of color could come from these minute islands is a testament to the collective spirit of a great nation.