The New Fadistas

 

Ana Moura – Guarda-Me a Vida Na Mao (Universal Music Portugal, 2003/World Village, 2004)

Fado music has been experiencing a renaissance in recent years. A growing list of innovators and traditionalists have revitalized the popular genre in Portugal. Judging from the most recent releases, the new generation of fadistas is dominated by women: Mariza, Mizia, Ana Moura, Katia Guerreiro and Cristina Branco. Nevertheless, a handful of men, like Pedro Moutinho, have generated a lot of interest.

Ana Moura met guitarist Jorge Fernando at a fado house. Eventually he became the producer of her album. The passionate singer is a perfect match for Jorge Fernando on Guarda-Me a Vida Na Mao. He leaves his imprint throughout the album, writing some of the lyrics and using arrangements that break away from the traditional. Fernando combines Portuguese and Spanish guitar.

 

 

Primeiro Fado is the debut album of traditional fado singer Pedro Moutinho. His accompaniment includes Portuguese guitar, guitar and bass. Moutinho, in his mid-twenties, is regarded as one of the most promising names of the new generation. A native of Oeiras, a suburb of Lisbon, he was born in a well known family of fadistas. His two brothers are international renowned Camané and Helder Moutinho. With his warm and suggestive voice Mountinho performs mainly traditional fados, although on Primeiro Fado he also ventures into Portuguese folk and Brazilian music.

Cristina Branco – Post-Scriptum (l’empreinte digitale ED13131, 2000)

 

Cristina Branco is the better known of the three. Unlike other young fadistas, she comes from the world of pop and jazz. These contemporary influences are evident in her bluesy performance on Post-Scriptum.