Artist Profiles: Teofilo Chantre

Teófilo Chantre was born in 1964 on São Nicolau, Cape Verde. His parents migrated to Europe and Teofilo eventually settled in France.

Teofilo Chantre’s songwriting is a place full of nostalgia for the Cape Verdean paradise of childhood. Chantre became well known for his work composing songs for Cape Verde’s greatest singer, Cesária Évora, whom he met in Paris in the 1990s. Teofilo’s songs appeared in Cesaria Evora’s Miss Perfumado (1992) and C’è sempre un motivo (2004) albums.

Recognized primarily as a composer and guitarist, he is also a vocalist of quality, whose tonality is infused with melancholy and longing. His Live album (Lusafrica, 2002) provides a true sense of what he is like on stage.

His style includes mornas, coladeiras, boleros, fusion jazz and Brazilian accents.

His 2007 album Viajá was partially recorded in Mindelo, Cape Verde. It featured Bau, one of the best musicians in Cape Verde and young guitar sensation Hernani Almeida.

Discography:

Terra & Cretcheu (Lusafrica, 1993)
Di Alma (Lusafrica, 1997)
Rodatempo (Lusafrica, 2000)
Live (Lusafrica, 2002)
Azulando (Lusafrica, 2004)
Viajá (Lusafrica, 2011)
Mestissage (Lusafrica, 2013)

Author: Angel Romero

Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.