Music: Homage to Cesaria Evora

I tried to remember when I was first introduced to Cesaria Evora‘s music. I can’t. It seems that she has always been part of my life’s soundtrack in a form or another. For many of us she put Cape Verde on the list of places we need to visit. I had that opportunity when an aborted transatlantic passage on a small sailboat landed me on the shores of this incredible archipelago. I remember walking down the dark streets of Sal or Praia or on the beaches of Boa Vista led by the tunes of Morna and Coladeria music taking turns in telling the stories of the place. It was magical. I will go back to Cape Verde.

I had the chance of listening to Cesaria Evora performed once almost 10 years ago at the New Jersey Performance Arts Center in Newark. She was told she couldn’t smoke on stage so about half way through the concert she sat down, open a pack of cigarette and smoked while giving the most beautiful rendition of her song Sodade.

Alas, it is the same cigarette that cut her career short at the end of last year and took her away on December 17.

Adeus!

Tagged as: Cape Verde, Cesaria Evora, Morna