Distino Di Belita

As the grande dame of world music, Cape Verde's Cesaria Evora is a singer beyond compare. Her deep voice and gentle phrasing are as friendly as a favorite aunt. Nonetheless, Evora has a sad bit of romantic melancholy to her that is always part of the morna style, which has its roots in West African drumming and Portuguese fado. It makes her, like the music, timeless. Even though Distino Di Belita was recorded in 1974, it holds up well next to recent efforts like Miss Perfumado, São Vicente, and Mar Azul. There are, however, some concessions. The production is typical for African albums of the era, which means there is some unwarranted glossiness that does nothing for tracks like "T'imbutchode," "Pontero," and the title track. For the most part, though, Distino Di Belita holds up well thanks to Evora herself and gems like "Nova Sintra." Released for the first time in the United States, this is a must for fans. --Tad Hendrickson