REGISTER     LOGIN  
OK
ALL ARTISTS

Europe  > Portugal > António Zambujo



// António Zambujo Listen to António Zambujo's albums

VIDEOSPORTRAITREVIEWSINTERVIEWSREPORTSMP3PHOTOSAGENDA

António Zambujo
© Benjamin MiNiMuM

Outro Sentido


Outro Sentido “Cante Alentejano” is a traditional male chant from Portugal’s Alentejo region where Antonio Zambujo grew up. The proximity with Africa means North Africa’s musical culture has penetrated the region’s unique vocal style. From the start, Zambujo has decided to integrate this cante into the fado he espoused from an early age. This third album once again reflects his audacity and the title aptly translates as “Other Direction”. The vocalist’s courage has been rewarded in the past, as testified by his 2002 release O Mesmo Fado which helped bag him the prestigious Radio Nova FM award as Best New Fado Voice. Outro Sentido now proves the 32-year-old has matured into a wonderful singer whose new horizons include forays into Brazilian Popular Music, Bulgarian vocalese and jazz.

Zambujo’s experimentations were also recognised recently when he was awarded the Amalia Rodrigues Foundation prize for Best Fado Male Singer. He has thus become part of a wave of new Portuguese fadistas that include Mariza, Camané and Mafalda Arnaut, and this album adds new pep to a style that first emerged in the 1820s. Its arranger/producer/bass player, Ricardo Cruz, is characteristically upbeat about the singer’s conscious irreverence: “(We) have tried to input some chaos into the system,” Cruz is quoted as saying, “(We use) instruments that one cannot often find in the fado universe (such) as the cello, electric guitar and French horn.” The result is a moving album that flows along smoothly, buoyed by Zambujo’s achingly beautiful voice.

While the fado element is immediately identifiable, there is a universal quality that will remind some listeners of Chilean icon Victor Jara. “Para que Quero eu Alhos” (“Why do I need eyes?”) and “A Nossa Contradição” (“Our contraction”) are fine examples of the controlled power Zambujo infuses into his singing. He also shows that he can take songs from the Brazilian and repertoire and adapt them convincingly to Portuguese rhythmic traditions. “Labios Que Beijei” (“Lips I have kissed”) and “Quando tu Passas Por Mim” (“When you pass by”) illustrate this to perfection. His collaboration with the Angelite Choir from Bulgaria for “Chamateia” is less convincing, however. It does not stand comparison with the brilliant revisions of fado classics like “Fadista Louco” (“Mad Fadista”), “Foi Deus” (“It was god”) or “Amor de Mel, Amor de Fel” (“Sweet love, bitter love”) (the latter made timeless by Amalia Rodrigues).

So, once again, Antonio Zambujo has deliberately walked away from the traditional fado styles in Outro Sentido. 2007 has been a rich year for this dashing Portuguese artist. He is helping to resurrect the male fado tradition which has been somewhat overshadowed by the outstanding female singers of the last decade. This third release is bound to propel him further into the international limelight that his talents deserve.

November 2007

Daniel Brown


  (2 votes)

Comments  

Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Stumble It Email This More...





// ALSO

ADS



Les blogs
Mondomix

see all blogs



Last news on Mondomix
All Mondomix sections
Mondomix blogs
Last updates
Newsletters


Services
Community
RSS
Practical infos
Mondomix is a member of
The Mondomix's experience on


Search by continent


Search by name


Editions


Mondomix - The essential online resource for worldwide music and culture. Music, cinema, literature, society, travel, events, reports, artists. Experience the world with Mondomix.
All rights reserved. Copy prohibited © 1998 - 2010   Mondomix Media

Culture is not a luxury, Mondomix needs your support!

Make a donation