Morna Has Broken: Mayra Andrade and "Kenha Ki Ben Ki Ta Bai"

Mayra Andrade, a Cape Verdean singer who lives in Paris, brings us our random tune for today. A well traveled child because her father was a Cape Verdean diplomat, Andrade is multilingual but usually sings in Cape Verdean Crioulo, a creole language based on Portuguese. She is often praised for her modern interpretation of Cape Verde's morna music, and has been compared to the great Cape Verdean singer Cesária Évora. This song, Kenha Ki Ben Ki Ta Bai, can be found on her 2011 live album Studio 105 (the video is live footage of the recording used on the album).

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayra_Andrade

Waking in the Morna: Nana Matias and "Pays Sol"

Today's random song is by Cape Verdean singer Nana Matias. She and her sister, singer Dulce Matias, sang in piano bars in Mindelo, Cape Verde as they were getting their start in music. Matias specializes in "mornas," a type of ballad that is slow and reflective. These types of songs were also associated with the early careers of notable Cape Verdean performers like Cesaria Evora. Matias now lives and records in France. On this song, Pays Sol, she is backed by her uncle on guitar and by her sister on vocals. Pays Sol can be found on the 1999 compilation CD Putumayo Presents: Cape Verde.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Source: Putumayo CD jacket

Oh What a Beautiful Morna: Bana and "Cabinda a Cunene"

Today's song is by the Cape Verdean "King of Morna" Adriano Gonçalves, who died recently in 2013. Known on stage as Bana, he was a balladeer and interpreter of the morna style which is considered the national music of Cape Verde. An imposing seven foot tall man, he began his musical career while serving as a handyman and bodyguard for the legendary Cape Verdean singer B. Leza. He recorded his first album in Senegal, and in the late 1960s moved around Europe where he joined a group of exiled Cape Verdeans called Voz de Cabo Verde. He settled in Portugal in 1969, opened a restaurant. He later established the first Cape Verdean-owned multinational record label in Paris. He had a 60 year career, the last part of which was devoted to traditional mornas and coladeiras. This song, Cabinda a Cunene, can be found on the 1997 album Gira Sol, and on the 1999 compilation Putumayo Presents: Cape Verde.

Top of the Morna: Mayra Andrade and "Kenha Ki Ben Ki Ta Bai"

Today's random tune is by Mayra Andrade, a Cape Verdean singer who lives in Paris. A well traveled child because her father was a Cape Verdean diplomat, Andrade is multilingual but usually sings in Cape Verdean Crioulo, a creole language based on Portuguese. She is often praised for her modern interpretation of Cape Verde's morna music, and has been compared to the great Cape Verdean singer Cesária Évora. This song, Kenha Ki Ben Ki Ta Bai, can be found on her 2011 live album Studio 105 (the video is live footage of the recording used on the album).

In the Sun Country: Nana Matias and "Pays Sol"

Today's random song is by Cape Verdean singer Nana Matias. She and her sister, singer Dulce Matias, sang in piano bars in Mindelo, Cape Verde as they were getting their start in music. Matias specializes in "mornas," a type of ballad that is slow and reflective. These types of songs were also associated with the early careers of notable Cape Verdean performers like Cesaria Evora. Matias now lives and records in France. On this song, Pays Sol, she is backed by her uncle on guitar and by her sister on vocals. Pays Sol can be found on the 1999 compilation CD Putumayo Presents: Cape Verde.

A Silver Slipper: Fantcha and "Cinderela"

Today's random song is by Cape Verdean songstress Fantcha. Fantcha was born in the Cape Verdean city of Mindelo and took to music at an early age - learning to sing while accompanied by her brothers' guitar and cavaquinho. At 10, she caught the attention of Gregorio Gonçalves, also known as Ti Goy, one of Cape Verde's most famous composers. He not only took her under his wing and taught her musically, but he also introduced her to the legendary Cesaria Evora, who also taught Fantcha much about music. After a brief recording stint in Portugal, Fantcha moved to New York City. Her evolving music style includes Portuguese, African and Cuban inflections, and she sings mornas with a rich, sensuous voice befitting their mournful topics. However, she can also get people to dance, especially when she gets going on her coladeras. Cinderela can be found on her 1997 album Criolinha and on the Putumayo compilation CD Cape Verde.