Thursday, October 10, 1996
MUSIC:
Cesaria Evora’s style highlights minor-key ballads charged with
raw emotionBy Susan Lee
Daily Bruin Contributor
A gentle whisper. Glamorous and sensual, yet motherly. Singing
that melts the soul.
With a voice often compared to Billie Holiday and Edith Piaf,
it’s not surprising that all of these phrases are used by admirers
to describe critically acclaimed vocalist Cesaria Evora’s alto
voice.
On Friday, Evora will grace the Veterans Wadsworth Theater with
her 10-member band. The performance will also feature a CenterStage
discussion at 7 p.m. with Tom Schnabel, host of KCRW’s "Cafe
L.A."
Although this concert may be many American’s first time hearing
Evora, her career goes back to her teenage years.
Born in Mindelo, on the Cape Verde island of Sao Vincente, Evora
began singing at 16.
"I was with a friend, a guitar player, and then I just started
singing for the hell of it," Evora says. "He really liked my voice
 I think it’s in the family because my father and brothers
are singers and my uncle is a composer."
During her early years as a singer, Evora could barely support
herself, but, after a struggling career in music, she isn’t about
to blame any hardships on her career.
"Everybody goes through a hard life," Evora explains. "There
weren’t hard times because of my career or not getting paid, but
there were hard times because I was a single mother surviving on
what I could get. But I liked that sort of life back then Â
nobody could stop me."
Although Evora specializes in singing emotion-filled "mornas,"
the 55-year-old grandmother has little to mourn now. In the 1980s,
French entrepreneur and now producer Jose Da Silva convinced Evora
to record an album in Paris, which she called La Diva aux Pieds
Nus. Since then, with four international releases and various
awards, the Cape Verde native has distinguished herself as the
"Queen of Morna."
Mornas are types of songs which the Portuguese-speaking Evora
compares to the suffering that inspired the "blues" in America, a
combination of minor-key ballads full of nostalgia, sadness, love
and longing.
Often called the "Barefoot Diva," a title earned because of her
trademark barefoot performances, Evora attributes her popularity
and success to her ability to reach a worldwide audience.
"I have to thank Jose because now I’m singing to people all
throughout the world for my people," Evora says. "I have a whole
bunch of nicknames, like old wine and barefoot diva, but I love all
of them."
Though some of her favorite singers include Billie Holiday and
Nat King Cole, Evora claims that they do not influence her singing
mornas.
"I love their voices but I’m not influenced by them," Evora
says.
She is, however, influenced by the mood backstage before each
performance. Evora likes to have people around laughing and
talking. Not only is it comforting but it helps ease the space that
comes from missing her home when she is touring.
"I miss the whole place  the kids, grandkids, home Â
everything." Evora admits. "I guess I like going different places
when I’m on tour, but I like to stay home and cook, clean the house
and play with my grandkids too. I usually carry a photo album with
me but I just realized I forgot that at home just now."
But even though Evora misses home, she likes the energy students
bring to performances and music. She not only hopes they understand
her when she expresses herself singing, but wants young people to
listen to a variety of music.
"People should listen to all sorts of music and learn from
them," she says.
Her most recent album, a self-titled release labeled "Cesaria
Evora," is receiving enthusiastic praise, especially in Europe. Add
that to two much talked about performances at the 1995 Montreal
Jazz Festival, and it’s no wonder Evora is enthused about her
success.
"I’m not planning on retiring just yet," Evora laughs. "I still
have another album coming out in March, after I record just one
more song."
MUSIC: Cesaria Evora performs tomorrow at the Veterans Wadsworth
Theater. TIX: $30, $27, or $11 for students. For more info, call
the Central Ticket Office at 825-2101.
UCLA Center for the Performing Arts
Critically acclaimed singer Cesaria Evora is set to perform at
the Veterans Wadsworth Theater.