The Ano Nobo Quartet – The Strings of São Domingos (Ostinato Records, 2022)
The Strings of São Domingos presents the work of four guitar masters from Cape Verde. The group is led by a well-known musician named Pascoal who spent time traveling the world as a member of FARP (Revolutionary Armed Forces of the People), the armed wing of Cape Verde’s independence movement that was supported by the Soviet Union. As part of that alliance, Pascoal was deployed to various parts of the globe, including Cuba, Crimea and East Berlin. During his time in Cuba, Pascoal was exposed to the island’s rich guitar tradition.
Pascoal formed the The Ano Nobo Quartet together with fellow guitar maestros, Fany, Nono, and Afrikanu who use Spanish and Chinese-made guitars. The name of the ensemble, The Ano Nobo Quartet, is a tribute to Cape Verde’s most famous composer, Ano Nobo, who was Pascoal’s mentor.
The captivating album The Strings of São Domingos is a tribute to a popular traditional music genre in Cape Verde called koladera, or coladeira. It is known for its guitar-fueled sound and the use of subtle rhythms. However, the music on The Strings of São Domingos is not traditional koladera. Cape Verde is a melting pot of musical influences and, therefore, The Ano Nobo Quartet skillfully and masterfully injects Cuban salsa, Spanish Flamenco, Brazilian samba, Jamaican reggae, Argentine tango, Mozambican Marrabenta, and blues.
The Strings of São Domingos is a delightful guitar and vocals album featuring engaging performances and fascinating guitar interplay.
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.