Adelina Ramos

Fadista Adelina Ramos, owner of the traditional Fado restaurant "A Tipóia" and creator of the popular Fado "Não Passes Com Ela à Minha Rua," passed away on Saturday, July 26 "no Casa do Artista" at the age of 82.

At her restaurant, Fadistas such as Teresa Tarouca, Carlos Ramos, Maria da Fé, and many others, were regular performers. "A Tipóia" was a favorite spot of the great Alfredo Marceneiro.

Her death was announced today though she was buried on Monday. Fans are infuriated that the news was not revealed earlier and that they were not able to pay their last respects.

About Adelina Ramos from "Lisboa no Guiness"

Adelina Ramos, nasceu a 14 de Junho de 1916.

Foi uma­ das verda­deiras fadistas, que o Fado conheceu.

Os Fados que ela cantava saíam-lhe da garganta onde o bairrismo alfa­cinha, puro e nato, tem todo o encanto pitoresco da genuína expressão fadista!
Ade­lina Ramos soube conservar-se humildemente, uma grande fadista!

Ao ouvi-la cantar o «menor», o «cor­rido», o «meia-noite», etc., afirmavam os seus admiradores:

— Sente-se o que ela canta, no mo­dular espontâneo e natural das frases musicais, que lhe saem da garganta, como saem – isto é que é Fado, meus senhores... – ela dá-nos toda uma gama de sentimentos e emoções que no Fado procura­mos e admiramos. Em noite grande, Adelina empolga, can­ta a garganta, cantam os olhos, cantam os gestos… E, quase sem nos apercebermo-nos, suavemente fi­camos presos na magia da sua voz, que nos embala a alma, dizendo-nos coisas de amor, de saudade, de ciúme, de re­volta... Sentimo-nos extasiados, fere-nos a carícia da sua voz a desvendar-nos esse mundo íntimo e profundo, que palpita em todos nós, e só o Fado consegue revelar.

Adelina Ramos foi proprietária do Restaurante Típico “A Tipóia”, recinto por onde passaram quase todos os grandes nomes da época, quer de fadistas, quer figuras de relevo da sociedade de então.

Fernanda Baptista

Fado has lost one of its great deliverers this morning, July 25th, Fernanda Baptista.

At the age of 89, Fernanda Baptista died in a hospital in Cascais, Portugal.

Fernanda Baptista will be remebered for the 65 years that she dedicated her life as a Fadista and actress. She starred in more than 50 musicals, recorded hundreds of records, and took our national song to different stages around the world.

She will be missed, remembered, and will live on through her music.

Fernanda Baptista's Biography from Fado.com

Lisboa, 28 Set (Lusa) - Vários dos êxitos da fadista Fernanda Baptista, nomeadamente "Fado toureiro" e "Saudades de Júlia Mendes", são reeditados num duplo CD pela Movieplay Portuguesa, a 03 de Outubro.

O duplo CD reúne êxitos gravados pela fadista desde a década de 1960 à de 1980 para a etiqueta Riso&Ritmo, já extinta.

A gravação mais antiga, "Ai! Que saudade" (João Gomes/Carlos Rocha), data de 1967, sendo a fadista acompanhada pelo conjunto de guitarras de Jorge Fontes.

A gravação mais recente é de 1981, "Meus amigos, isto é fado", um êxito seu na revista "Dentadinhas na maçã" no Teatro Laura Alves, em Lisboa, em 1974.

Nesta edição, aquela que a imprensa qualificou de "maior voz do teatro de revista", surge acompanhada por várias orquestras, nomeadamente sob a direcção de Shegundo Galarza, Ferrer Trindade e Rocha Oliveira.

Fernanda Baptista integra actualmente o elenco do musical de Filipe la Feria "A Canção de Lisboa".

"Fernanda Baptista é um exemplo de longevidade do êxito. Poucos nomes se têm mantido como cabeça de cartaz e na plenitude das suas capacidades como ela", salientou à agência Lusa Julieta Estrela, presidente da Associação Portuguesa dos Amigos do Fado (APAF). Segundo a mesma fonte, a cantora "é dona de uma magnífica voz e criou êxitos que fazem a história do fado".

Alguns desses êxitos, como "O fado está-lhe nas veias", "Ai, ai, Lisboa", "Fado para esta noite", "Trapeiras de Lisboa", "Fui ao baile", "Fado das sombras", "Um fado para Stuart" e "Fado da carta", serão incluídos no duplo CD que será editado a 03 de Outubro.

Fernanda Baptista, 85 anos, estreou-se em 1945 na revista "Banhos de Sol".

Em declarações à Lusa a fadista afirmou: "A revista tinha excelentes compositores e letristas e as canções saíam para a rua com uma enorme facilidade. Tive de facto muitos êxitos".

Ema Pedrosa, responsável pela selecção da antologia, disse à Lusa que, "se na sua altura fossem entregues discos de ouro e platina, Fernanda Baptista tinha os suficientes para forrar a casa, tantos os seus verdadeiros sucessos populares".

"A sua voz potente, brilhante e expressiva, de timbre e extensão invulgares, serviu os mais variados autores, no que ajudou a sua espontaneidade em palco e a maneira fácil de comunicar com o público", rematou.

Ao longo de 56 anos de palcos, Fernanda Baptista participou em mais de 45 espectáculos de revista e opereta.

Em 2003 o Presidente da República condecorou-a com a Ordem de Mérito, em 1999 a APAF tinha já distinguido com o diploma de Sócia de Mérito.

Helder Moutinho at Drom, NYC!!

Since May I've spent my every evening from Monday through Thursday in Accounting classes. But yesterday I played hookie for a good reason; I went to Drom in New York City to see one of the most important figures in Fado, Helder Moutinho.

I didn't find out he was coming to NYC until 2am, the morning of his performance, from an article I read on Fado.com which I read regularly. I called a group together last minute and we made our way to the venue. The venue describes its setting as "Located in the East Village area of Manhattan, DROM is a multi-event venue with a restaurant and lounge. With high ceilings, earthy colors and comfortable seating, we aim to provide a warm, inviting, sophisticated and informal atmosphere to relax and enjoy our multi-cultural and varied programming."-- And that they did. The location was intimate and appropriate for Fado.

A little after 10 pm, Helder Moutinho (Fadista), Ricardo Parreira (Portuguese Guitar), and Miguel Monteiro (Viola) began their performance with "Ha Festa Na Mouraria" followed by "Vielas De Alfama" then "Fado Isabel"... Each better and more intense than the next. Helder Moutinho is a captivating performer who takes notice of his audience. He spoke both in English and Portuguese for all to understand and even encouraged his American listeners to sing along with him in the international singing language of "Lalala!"



Besides from being a Fadista, he's written for other Fadistas such as Misia, Mafalda Arnauth, Maria Da Nazaré, Pedro Moutinho, Raquel Tavares, Joana Amendoeira, amungst others and also owns his own record label called "HM" which edits albums from such artists as Joana Amendoeira, Raquel Tavares, Argentina Santos, Jorge Fernando, Marco Oliveira, Ricardo Parreira, and other World Music performers, which he serves as an agent, producer, and manager.

I had the pleasure of performing with Helder during a few performances back when I was only 14 years old, but I was still learning and understanding Fado, so I appreciated his performance more so last night where he transmitted the emotions felt in Fado like only a true Fadista like himself is capable of accomplishing.

With him, the amazing guitarists that accompanied him, Ricardo Parreira and Miguel Monteiro, who treated us with two guitarradas! Ricardo Parreira (who like myself is 22) on the Portuguese guitar would effortlessly play challenging pieces while Miguel Monteiro responded to the Portuguese guitar while including unique passages in the traditional Fados that Helder sang. The connection between the three musicians on stage was satisfying to see.


After about an hour of Fado, and "Lisboa a Noite" (his closing Fado), all three where nice enough to talk to us for about 45 minutes. Helder Moutinho and I reminisced about our performances together 6 years ago and his plans and projects in production. Diogo Arésnio and Michael DaSilva who also came to the show were especially treated. Diogo and Ricardo traded "unhas," the nail picks used to play the Portuguese guitar, and played a little guitar together while 10 feet away, Miguel Monteiro showed Michael his guitarra made by Gracio which apparently is a big deal. (There is a 10 year waiting list for one of these guitars.)


We had a great time and I'm so glad I found out about the show. It was refreshing to hear a male Fadista of his caliber in the U.S. where the Fado market is more female driven. Especially in the summer, when Fado is slightly out of touch. I wish every Thursday was this fun!

Click the pictures to enlarge

Helder Moutinho's Biography from heldermoutinho.com

Helder Moutinho was born in 1969, in Oeiras, where the Tagus meets the Ocean, and maybe it was from this daily intimacy with the sea that came the major characteristic of his career: a multiple capacity of understanding and living his music, by singing, composing, producing, managing, constantly probing wider horizons, of solid and neat banks and rich, steady stream. From his family of old fado lovers, and from accompanying them to the traditional fado circles, he got not only his taste for this kind of song, but above all his determination to sing it, and so entering in fado's unique universe.

It was in Moutinho's late teens that, after getting familiar to other musical styles, fado began to take an increasing importance in his life. This is perhaps the reason to explain his enduring, inevitable relation with Lisbon… After the lifelong calling of the sea, now is Tagus River that requests him, revealing him Lisbon, the city of passions, of poetic and nostalgic nights, of high flying gulls that he will forever on sing and write about. He initially sang only to friends, but his gift could not remain hidden, and he soon got his first invitation to sing in one of Bairro Alto's fado bars.

By this time, Moutinho's all latent talents began to show themselves. In reunions of fado singers, all night long, among other fado lovers, he began to sing his own lyrics that he would later include in his first album, Sete Fados e Alguns Cantos (Seven Fados and Some Songs).

Concurrently, Helder Moutinho began revealing himself in other and important activities: those of a manager, agent and music editor. The transition from singing in fado bars and in concerts - one must mention his participation in projects like Fados Mãe de Água, organized by Lisbon City Hall and included in "Lisbon 94 - European Capital of Culture", the Festima Festival at "Expo' 98", along with performances throughout Portugal and abroad - is a process that Moutinho himself can't explain - but soon the stress-free approach of his beginnings turned to become a deeper, compromised one.

His first record, released by Ocarina in 1999, got flattering notice from magazine "Strictly Mundial" (of the "World Music International Exibition"), and very good reviews from Portuguese and international press. From all these motives, his new release was eagerly expected, knowing that its lyrics were written, in their vast majority, by the singer himself, and that its process of creation and recording was like in Moutinho's first one: in the middle of tours, reunions, planning, and an enterprise of his own to manage. For this is like Helder Moutinho is: a man of many talents, with a voice and a soul he must absolutely share with us.

Menina Fadista!

During my performance na Casa Do Ribatejo in Newark, NJ back in November of last year, I surprised the audience with an exclusive duet with a very special guest. Her name is Raquel Santos. She was here on vacation in the United States with her family, (who are dear friends of my family and I) from Maia, Portugal. Apparently, she enjoys listening to my album and one Fado that she particularly favors is "O Namorico Da Rita" which she would constantly parade around the house singing.

One of the things she wanted to do during her trip to the U.S. was watch me sing during one of my performances. So when she finally got the chance to come, I asked the organization of the event if I could invite an extraordinary 4 year old to sing with me. They agreed and the audience loved it! Raquel very timidly sang the entire song, mostly by herself, even though it was WAY past her bedtime! It was definitely the highlight of the night. Turns out she was the youngest person Sr. Chuva and Sr. Mendonça ever accompanied throughout their whole Fado careers!

Below is the video of our short performance. Unfortunately because of how dark it was at the event, it was shot in night vision, either way I hope you enjoy it as much as the audience and I did that night!!

Guitarras do Atlântico

Viriato Ferreira and Jose Silva, who most consider to be the best Fado guitarists in the United States, or North America even, have just released their first album entitled, "Guitarras do Atlântico." After accompanying many Fadistas from Lisbon such as Lenita Gentil, and Anita Guerreiro amungst many others, as well as local artists and accompanying such artists in recording dozens of albums (including mine), they finally decided to record their own! The album includes original guitarradas created by Jose Silva, as well as traditional guitarradas. I've been blessed to have the advice, guidance, and friendship of these two gentlemen and I recognize that most of my success has been thanks to them. I wish them all the best and recommend that you buy the album. If you are interested in acquiring one, let me know (nathalie@nathaliepires.com) and I'll be your middleman!

Photo Shoot #2

On Saturday, I met up with the photographer responsible for the pictures on my album, "Corre-me O Fado Nas Veias," for another photo shoot. It wasn't Fado related but soon they will be posted on my website under the miscellaneous tab on the Photo section. I'm still not comfortable in front of the camera and I'm far from being a model but Carlos and Kelly made it fun and took some beautiful pictures. The pictures were taken to advertise accessories made by a friend of Kelly's around the city of Philadelphia. So here you go...

Summer of Fado...

It's been awhile since I've posted anything, but as the summer approaches, the sound of the guitars are drowned by the huge outdoor festivals in celebration of other Portuguese events. Even though things have been pretty slow on my end, the Fado world has been restless...

Raquel Tavares has recently released her second album, "Bairro," which includes a bonus DVD featuring her interpreting some of the tracks off her new album as well as an interview. I ordered her CD online and have yet to receive it, but from what I've seen on youtube, it's another step forward for the latest "revelation in Fado," Raquel Tavares. I've read articles about her performing in South America, but unfortunately I have yet to learn of any performances in the United States. :( Oh well, I'll just have to keep on watching her videos... Here's the video clip for her first single off her latest album, "Rosa da Madragoa.

Mariza has recently release her fourth album entitled "Terra." From what I've heard so far from the four tracks she's uploaded on her myspace profile, she seems to be stepping into other genres of music, such as Morna from Cape Verde, Flamenco from Spain, and even a taste of rumba on her first single off the album, "Rosa Branca." Her cover of that song is brilliant and it's been in my head since last Tuesday. She will be performing her new set on over 100 stages around the world and hopefully I'll be able to go see her when she comes to New York City.

Something I'm extremely excited about is that a movie based on the life of the late Diva of Fado, Amalia Rodrigues, has recently began its production and is said to be the most expensive movie ever made in Portugal! The movie will tell the story of Amalia's life, fame and pain. I think it's great that they're doing this, especially now that Fado seems to be getting more and more popular amongst the Portuguese population themselves. Production has already began but hopefully the movie will premiere in time for the 10 year anniversary of her death which will be October 6, 2009.



As for me, I had anticipated to dedicate a lot of my free time this summer to begin thinking about the possibility of a second album. So far, I'm still waiting for the free time... But Fado has been on my mind however and this weekend I had the pleasure of having a mini Fado Session with Sr. Viriato, Michael Da Silva, and Diogo Arsenio in my own backyard. Usually my agenda is free of performances in the summer but I just returned from Provincetown and in August I will perform in New Bedford, Massachusetts for two nights and I will fly out to California once again for a private event. I have some mini Fado plans and projects that I hope to get through this summer and I'll be sure to keep you posted as I go along...

Filipa Cardoso

Since the Atlantic Ocean is what separates me from Lisbon, I have to find other ways to learn about up and coming Fadistas and what's new in the Fado world. My main resource is far from sitting in a "Casa de Fado", it's the internet. I spend hours watching videos on YouTube and searching the latest news on google (I know you're probably thinking I have no life) and during one of my most recent hunts I came across someone I was surprised to never have heard about. Her name is Filipa Cardoso who was born and raised in Lisbon and she has a voice that in my opinion is the true definition of pure fado. She won first place in the "Grande Noite de Fado" in 2005 and shortly after recorded her debut album "Fragmento do Fado." You can find her singing at Maria da Fe's Restaurant "O Senhor Vinho" in Lisbon or even at a local "revista Lisboeta." Another young Fadista keeping our tradition strong!! Check out the video below and you'll understand what I mean...

Filipa Cardoso's Biography from LisboacomCarmona.net

Filipa Cardoso nasceu a 18 de Abril de 1979 num bairro típico de Lisboa “o Alto do Pina” a quem os mais antigos e historiadores apelidaram de “viveiro dos fadistas” Canta pela primeira vez em público com 10 anos , no casamento de uma prima, e cai de imediato nas graças do dono do restaurante que lhe oferece o primeiro cachet para cantar noutros casamentos… a Filipa recusa o cachet mas aceita o desafio….

Já com 15 anos, o violinista Raul Silva, ao ouvi-la cantar numa tarde em sua casa, no aniversario da neta, convidou-a cantar numa casa típica “Taverna do Embuçado”, nessa mesma noite. A partir dessa noite passou a cantar lá todos os dias, assim com na “Taverna d´el Rey” tambem esta em alfama. Mas a sua experiencia durou apenas 8 meses, nao por falta de gosto, mas dizia a Filipa que era uma menina muito feliz e de muito bem com a vida para cantar poemas tao sofridos… a sua tenrra idade, e percurso de vida, nada tinha a ver com os fados que cantava… “lavava no rio lavava”, “estranha forma de vida”, “lágrima”, ou seja, dizia ela que eram estados de alma que só poderiam ser cantados por quem realmente sentisse a amargura, a dor, a perda, a solidão… para a Filipa não é preciso ter um grande vozeirão para se cantar bem o fado, mas sim transmitir com verdade cada palavra que o poeta escreve… como diria a poetiza Maria de Lurdes Carvalho - “Os Poetas são a Alma e os Fadistas o Corpo“. Quem a ouvia a cantar na altura admirava apenas a voz e não o sentimento que tentava transmitir…

Voltou quase 10 anos depois… e aí sim tinha muito para transmitir… Já era mulher e mãe. A sua vida já tinha tomado outro rumo… sabia entao o que era dor, solidão, perda… mas sem cantar fado a sua vida não fazia sentido.

Concorreu à grande noite do fado, em Lisboa, no teatro S. Luiz e ganhou o primeiro lugar na categoria de séniores. A partir daí, não parou mais… cantou nas melhores casas de fado do país: Arcadas do Faia, Café Luso, Marquês da Sé, Clube de Fado e Sr. Vinho, onde, neste último, ficou como fadista no elenco privativo…

A convite de Mário Raínho e Helder Freire Costa é convidada como fadista para a revista no Parque Mayer, “Arre Poter qué demais” Teatro Maria Vitória. Depois dessa fez mais duas: “A revista é liiiiiiinda“, em Lisboa no Maria Vitória, e no Porto, no Sá da Bandeira e “Já viram isto?!” também no Maria Vitória.

Esteve numa tourné em Espanha a solo e fez outra com Fernando Mendes.

Em 2007 foi eleita Rainha da canção nacional numa iniciativa do jornal “O crime” ao lado do cantor Toy como Rei.

Participou no festival RTP da canção com Edmundo Vieira com a canção “Desta Vez“.

NAS marchas populares é convidada para ser a madrinha do bairro onde nasceu o Alto do Pina.

Continua a dar voz ao seu fado na casa típica “O senhor Vinho” da fadista Maria da Fé.

É mandatária da juventude de Carmona Rodrigues, porque acima de tudo AMA A SUA CIDADE - LISBOA.

Deolinda

Deolinda is a band that I discovered about a year ago on YouTube while stumbling upon a video of a live performance of their cleverly funny "Fado Toninho". Their interpretation of their version of witty Fado full of energy and attitude instantly sparked my interest. Turns out they have just released their self-titled debut album this week! I just purchased one on cdgo.com and I can't wait until it arrives. Ana Moura's "Para Alem da Saudade" has been playing non-stop in my cd player since I bought it back in August so I think I'll try another cd before it explodes. Once I receive their album I'll update this entry and let you know what I think about it...

Their approach to Fado is slightly different than the traditional concept but check out their description of their style, band members and how they came about with their energetic take on Fado.

From Deolinda.com.pt, Os Deolinda
By Antonio Pires

Há uma longa série de clichés associados ao fado. Por exemplo, o fado tem que ter guitarra portuguesa. Os Deolinda não usam guitarra portuguesa. Ou, o fado tem que ser sisudo, sério, compenetrado, fatalista e triste. Os Deolinda não são nada disso. Ou ainda, o fado não pode ser dançado. E dança-se com os Deolinda. Ou, para terminar, a fadista tem que vestir de preto, como se estivesse no seu próprio funeral. Ana Bacalhau, a voz dos Deolinda (a Deolinda, ela própria?), veste roupas garridas, alegres, coloridas.

Mas os Deolinda são... fado, apesar disso tudo, e são muito mais que fado, por causa disso tudo e de tudo o mais que a sua música contém. Uma música que vai à música popular portuguesa - um universo que aqui abarca José Afonso e António Variações, Sérgio Godinho, Madredeus e os «muito mais que fadistas» Amália Rodrigues e Alfredo Marceneiro - e vai ainda à rembetika grega, à música ranchera mexicana, ao samba, à música havaiana, ao jazz e à pop, numa confluência original e rara de músicas-irmãs ou primas umas das outras e que, nos Deolinda, fazem todo o sentido.

Nos Deolinda, a música e as letras (geralmente de um humor fino, mordaz, por vezes absurdo, de outras surrealista, mas também capazes de fazer lembrar a pena de José Afonso, como em «Clandestino») são, em todas as canções, de Pedro da Silva Martins, guitarrista do grupo que, juntamente com o irmão - e igualmente guitarrista dos Deolinda - Luís José Martins, tinha antes feito parte dos Bicho de 7 Cabeças. Há dois anos, convidaram a prima Ana Bacalhau, então vocalista dos Lupanar, a cantar algumas das primeiras canções compostas para um novo projecto, ainda sem nome. E foi com ela - e com o contrabaixista Zé Pedro Leitão, também dos Lupanar, que se juntou ao projecto logo de seguida - que o conceito Deolinda começou a tomar forma. Um conceito que, com o desmembramento das duas bandas anteriores (Lupanar e Bicho de 7 Cabeças) nesse ano de 2006 e a vontade dos quatro em abraçar um projecto novo e original, cristalizou nos Deolinda.

Dois anos - e vários concertos memoráveis depois -, os Deolinda lançam agora o seu álbum de estreia, «Canção ao Lado», com catorze temas originais gravados pelos quatro nos estúdios Valentim de Carvalho, em Paço de Arcos, com produção do grupo e de Nélson Carvalho. No álbum participam ainda o percussionista João Lobo (pandeiro em «Garçonete da Casa de Fado») e muitos amigos dos Deolinda - Mitó Mendes (A Naifa), Norberto Lobo (Norman/Munchen), Mariana Ricardo (ex-Pinhead Society/Munchen), Joana Sá (também ex-Pinhead Society, agora nos Power Trio, ao lado de Luís José Martins), Gonçalo Tocha, Didio Pestana (ambos ex-Lupanar), Artur Serra e Carlos Penedo (ambos ex-Bicho de 7 Cabeças), entre outros - nos coros de «Movimento Perpétuo Associativo» e «Garçonete da Casa de Fado». Um grupo de amigos que se estende ao autor de banda-desenhada João Fazenda, que ilustrou o disco, e a Catherine Villeret e (mais uma vez) Gonçalo Tocha, que realizaram o divertidíssimo e surreal teledisco de «Fado Toninho», o primeiro single retirado de «Canção ao Lado».

O álbum «Canção ao Lado» é editado dia 21 de Abril, numa parceria da Sons em Trânsito com a iPlay.

Os Deolinda são:
Ana Bacalhau (voz)
Pedro da Silva Martins (composição, textos, guitarra clássica e voz)
Zé Pedro Leitão (contrabaixo e voz)
Luís José Martins (guitarra clássica, ukelele, cavaco, guitalele, viola braguesa e voz)

A teaser of the tracks off their debut album

To learn more about them:
www.myspace.com/deolindalisboa
www.youtube.com/deolindalisboa
www.deolinda.com.pt/

UPDATE:
I love this album!! It's clever, funny, witty, serious, and very well done... It has something for everyone. Check out their music video for "Fado Toninho" below...

California!!!

I just got back from California and I am extremely tired but can't fall asleep because I can't stop thinking about how amazing my weekend was... So I'm going to write it all down and maybe by the time I'm done I'll be too tired to think any more. So it here it goes...

Me and the California Sky

For the first time in my life I flew to the west coast of the country. Until then, all of my long trips were to Portugal where all you see is the Atlantic ocean. This time the view from the plane, 43,000 feet in the air was unbelievable. I flew over Colorado's snow covered mountains and even the grand canyon. When we got to California I was blown away by how different it is from the east coast. We landed in Los Angeles first, then rushed to our connecting flight to San Jose where we shared the plane with the actor/comedian Eddy Griffin!! I was really excited but nobody said anything to him so I didn't bother him either. After 50 minutes of flying over California's mountainous terrain we arrived in the beautiful city of San Jose.

San Jose, California

I finally got to meet Sr. Manuel Escobar, the man responsible for my first performance in California, who picked me up from the airport. He was kind enough to show us around the city and pick out all of the Portuguese organizations. I thought the east coast was heavily populated with Portuguese people but California is swarmed with us!! It's pretty cool.

Later that night after dinner, Sr. Manuel and Sra. Delia, his amazing wife, were kind enough to take me on a trip to San Francisco!! I was really excited because usually when I go on these trips far away from home I usually just stay in my hotel room the whole time until the show. The trip to San Francisco was awesome. It was so beautiful!! Before that night the only thing I really knew about San Francisco was that the Tanner family from "Full House" lived there:). I don't have any good pictures from the trip because it was night time and everything came out too dark. Maybe I'll get a better camera for my birthday next week... (Are you reading this daddy? :) ) We walked around this market by the water and we saw sea lions at Pier 39!! I'm probably way too excited about this but I've never seen them just out and about like that. There was like a hundred of them!! We finished our little troll around the city with a nice cup of hot tea because it was kind of chilly that night. It was so much fun and unexpected. Then we drove around the city and passed by Lombard Street and even drove through the famous Bay Bridge. It was amazing!! I'll never forget my mini trip to San Francisco. I'm definitely going back but taking my time to actually explore the city.


The next day, I woke up early to have breakfast at Sr. Escobar's house and to meet the other guitarists and rehearse for our big show. I forgot to mention that Sr. Escobar is the viola player. I later met Helder Carvalheira who plays the Portuguese guitar and Joao Cardadeiro who plays acoustic bass. They were amazing, perfectionists, and extremely professional. I didn't know what to expect but I definitely underestimated them. I also got to know them a little better and found out that Sr. Carvalheira, who is a 1st generation Luso-American like myself, is from the same exact town in Portugal as me; Bustos! Its crazy how I met a neighbor from Portugal in California. Sr. Cardadeiro is not that far from us in Portugal either. He's from Ilhavo which is about a half hour away. We rehearsed my whole setlist and it went great which made me confident for my performance later that night.





We got to the hall early for sound check and everything was going great but I was starting to get more nervous than usual. It was my first performance on the west coast and I was headlining the event so I was starting to feel the pressure especially because I know that many Fadistas from Lisbon perform in California pretty frequently. I was confident with my setlist but I was performing the whole second part alone which I had prepared 15 Fados and I was nervous that maybe it would drag and I would bore the audience.

The first session of Fados included the performances of 3 local artists that I had the pleasure of hearing for the first time. Manuel Pacheco, Glenda Reis (who is my age), and Isalino dos Santos.








Then the moment of truth arrived!! I was introduced by the Mayor of Gilroy, Mr. Al Pinheiro and as he read a little about my Fado career to the audience, they applauded some of my accomplishments which made me relax a little more because the audience was really welcoming. When the guitars began playing the intro to my first Fado of the night I could feel myself shake but as soon as I started singing I realized that the ambiance was perfect for Fado with a dark, candle lit room with 250-300 people completely silent which put me at ease for the rest of my performance. Throughout the whole show I received their complete participation and attention. And then just like that... The performance I had been awaiting for such a long time was over. It was definitely one of my most memorable.







I met so many wonderful and supportive people after my performance and despite it already being late they didn't mind waiting around to talk to me. The weekend went by so quickly. But since I got back I've heard nothing but great feedback. I owe it all to the great team I had behind me Helder Carvalheira, Manuel Escobar, and Joao Cardadeiro (who received my album and recommened to the rest of the "7 colinas".) And an extra special thank you to Sr. Manuel and Sra. Delia for their hospitality and everything they did for me. Also thank you Ricardo and Mafalda Amarante for taking a chance in me and inviting me to perform at your event.

Here's a quick review from Jornal Tribuna Portuguesa da California by Jose Raposo:

Lá findou a primeira parte e quando chegou a vez Nathalie Pires, só pela sua presença eu pude ver e disse ao meu amigo João Neves: "temos fadista".

A moça é um espectáculo e não tenho a mínima dúvida que se ela continuar a balançar o fado como deve balançar os livros da contabilidade que está cursando, o saldo será sempre positivo, pois que os algarismos na coluna do HAVER, serão sempre mais altos do que na coluna do DEVE.

O seu penúltimo fado, "Povo que lavas no rio", resolveu cantá-lo sem o microfone. Se bem que os corpos presentes na sala absorvessem uma parte do som, conseguiu cantar com timbre e intensidade, para que todos os presentes, mesmo os mais afastados do palco, pudessem ouvir perfeitamente. Terminou a sua actuação com o "fadinho serrano" O baloiçar do seu corpo e o movimento de cadência que dava aos ombros, trasmistiam perfeitamente o que lhe ia na alma de fadista.

Gilroy Noite De Fados - Nathalie Pires

Irmandade da Festa do Divino Espirito Santo posted this video of the performance on their myspace profile. (I think it might be the first video of me on the internet.)

Mio Matsuda

Everyone knows that Fado is very well excepted in Japan. The great Amalia Rodrigues had huge success in Japan, performing there various times and even releasing a cd of one of her concerts in Japan . Now the most successful Fadistas follow in her footsteps and constantly perform to Fado's loyal Japanese fans. It is no surprise that Fado has inspired even a Japanese young artist to express its sentiment to the world; Mio Matsuda.

Mio Matsuda is a Japanese Fado singer who has already successfully released 3 albums since 2005 with influences from Portugal, Cabo Verde, Japan, but especially Brazil. With her distinct voice and style, she has made me a fan of her diversified and nontraditional version of my favorite genre of music, Fado.

To learn more about Mio Matsuda visit her website:
www.miomatsuda.com
and to listen to some of her tracks off her albums visit her offiicial myspace page:
www.myspace.com/miomatsuda

From MioMatsuda.com, Mio Matsuda's Biography

Mio Matsuda began her singing career when she discovered fado, the magical traditional music of Portugal. Living in Lisbon and learning the culture, she developed fado as a form of her own self-expression. While studying fado in traditional Casa de fado (fado houses) in Lisbon, she became familiar with the music from the diasporas of Portuguese influenced countries.

In 2004, she traveled to Minas Gerais, Brazil, representing Portugal, to sing in the event called "Na Ponta da Língua," as a representative vocalist. In the same year, she was invited to sing for a month in the Cape Verde islands where she discovered the beauty of Creole music. Her trans-Atlantic musical experience led her to record her first album "Atlântica" (2005 JVC) in Rio de Janeiro. "Atlantica" united songs from the many Atlantic Ocean ports of Portugal, Cape Verde and Brazil, mixing the lovely sounds of these three highly musical countries.

In the following year, Mio recorded her second album “Pitanga!”(2006 JVC) in Rio de Janeiro. On "Pitanga," she recorded her own compositions inspired by the northeast Brazilian rhythms and rituals. Her voice mixed with the many instruments and musical styles of that highly musical area.

In 2007 she recorded her third album "Asas"(2007 Omagatoki) in Rio de Janeiro. On this brand new album,Cristovao Bastos(piano)and Joao Lyra(guitar), the two masters of Brazilian music have accompanied her Japanese and Brazilian songs of "Saudade",In October, she toured all over Japan with Joao Lyra.

While becoming an important figure in interpreting the music of Portuguese culture in Japan, Mio has collaborated with artists from all over the world, such as the already legendary Yamandú Costa (Brazil) and the inspired Jadranka Stojakovic (Sarajevo).Also in August, 2007, she was invited to Kodo's 20th Earth Celebration to sing among Giovanni Hidalgo,Zakir Hussein,Yosuke Yamashita,Tamango and Kodo.

Mio's unique singing style and sensibility reflects her colorful back ground and inspiring journeys.

Up Coming Shows...

Raquel Tavares: New Album May 5th!!

Recent and Exciting News from Fado.com:

Raquel Tavares: New album, "Bairro," released on 5th may!!! Live presentation day 7 may in teatro da trindade... The fadista raquel tavares is preparing to edit a new work of originals, called "bairro" on may 5. the same will be presented live in the theatre of trinidad, in lisbon on may 7. For the recording of "neighborhood", the winner of the 2006 prix revelation amália rodrigues, has remained faithful to the environment of the traditional fado, and with the musicians that followed in its debut record: diogo clemente in viola of fado, bernardo couto in the portuguese guitarra , and yami on acoustic bass. "bairro" still counted with the participation of special guest guilherme banza and angelo freire, the portuguese guitar players, and fatima fernandes, in the voice. "Bairro" will be published in cd format and digipack. the latter contains a dvd consisting of a concert of raquel tavares recorded in namouche studios, in lisbon, on march 8, and two interviews: the raquel tavares and diogo clemente, producer and musical director of "bairro”

Hey Raquel, when are you coming to New York? I'll be first in line to buy a ticket and I know a couple of people that would be waiting right behind me...

I'm really looking forward to having her next album and DVD. She is taking the Fado world by storm and is by far one of the best, even though she's only 23. Check out her bio also provided by Fado.com (in Portuguese).

Raquel Tavares: Bio

Considerada pela imprensa como a nova Severa Lisboeta, Raquel Tavares tem o dom de ser Fadista.

Para ser intérprete, não basta saber cantar, colocar a voz e afinar nas notas da melodia; é importante criar, pegar na poesia e casá-la com a música, sugerir uma história, e Raquel faz isso de um modo perfeito.

Reconhecimento público pela artista já se fez sentir: a Fadista foi galardoada com o Prémio “Revelação Feminina do Fado”, atribuído pela fundação Amália Rodrigues e distinguida com o Troféu “Melhor Nova Voz do Fado”, pela Rádio Central FM de Leiria, que tem na sua Comissão de Honra figuras tão ilustres como o Presidente da República, Prof. Doutor Aníbal Cavaco Silva, ou o Primeiro-Ministro, Eng. José Sócrates.

A Fadista têm pisado palcos nacionais e internacionais, arrastando multidões, como foi o caso do espectáculo em Torres Novas neste verão, onde compareceram 3.000 pessoas para a verem cantar, ou o espectáculo na Casa da Música, no Porto, onde presenteou o público tocando Guitarra Portuguesa.

Com passos pequenos mas seguros, Raquel Tavares procura internacionalizar o seu trabalho, actuando em países como Espanha, Itália, Irlanda, Inglaterra, Turquia ou França.

Versátil, talentosa e até musa inspiradora, Raquel Tavares deu um espectáculo único em Junho deste ano, juntamente com o grande Tito Paris, na Festa do Fado em Lisboa, no Castelo de São Jorge, onde a fusão do fado tradicional com a música cabo-verdiana atingiu um expoente de magnificência, ao qual o público correspondeu, abandonando as cadeiras e juntando-se aos artistas, num agradecimento espontâneo e sincero.
É esta a história de Raquel Tavares, a história de uma cantadeira.

Raquel Tavares: Fado Lisboeta (From her debut album)

A.U.A. Presents: Best Fado Album 2007: Corre-me O Fado Nas Veias!!

On Sunday, os Artistas Unidos da America (A.U.A.) held an award ceremony for artists that recorded an album in 2007. The gala was full of artists, fans, and media. It was nice to see that artists that weren't nominated for an award were there to support each other. The show was well organized and will be broadcast on the Portuguese Channel in the New England area some time this month.

The judges consisted of 10 people involved with the media. Here is a list of the winners for the Premios Lusiadas:

The big winner of the night was Jorge Silva with 4 awards. Dança Inglés "Cara Mia", Balada Inglés "Body to Body", Dança Português "Ana Maria", and Melhor Album de Musica Portuguesa "Ela Tem O Dor Fazer Chorar"

Raizes won in the Música Tradicional and Lusobeat's Online People's Choice Award Categories

Marc Dennis won Rock Português "Anos 70 e 80", and with Ana Lisa in the Duet category for "Foste Tu"

Jorge Ferreira won Best Marcha "Se Ela Encosta", and Best Baile "Deixa-me Ir Contigo"

Gilberto Cimbron won Álbum Humorístico

Arlindo Andrade won Balada Português "Dia de Casamento"

Luis Cabral won Instrumental "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights"

Eratoxica won Rock Inglés "Its OK"

Nelia won Melhor Album de Musica Portuguesa "Meu Mundo"

And me for my album "Corre-me O Fado Nas Veias" won Melhor Album de Fado


They also had a tribute to Jack Sebastião and awarded him with a Lifetime Achievement Award with a touching video of his performances and interviews.

I couldn't believe I won. I was sitting right next to Jeremias Macedo who was also nominated for the same award and I felt a little awkward when they called my name and announced that I won. He's been such a dear friend to me that it felt a little unfair. When I got on stage to receive my award I was overwhelmed with nerves because I didn't prepare a speech and I'm not the best public speaker especially when I'm under pressure. Honestly I don't really remember what I said and if I said it right. I was so busy trying to think about what to say that I don't think I realized how big of a deal it was until I looked at my dad. At the end of my speech I thanked him and told him that I dedicated the album to him so I wanted to dedicate the award to him as well, AND HE HAD TEARS IN HIS EYES!! My dad's one of those men that think that real men don't cry. In my 21 years of life I've only seen him cry 3 times. He was so proud. At that moment I realized how big of a deal it was and that this was one of the most important moments of my career.

Thank you, thank you, thank you:
Rob Leonardo (Digital Wave Multimedia), Sr. Viriato Ferreira, Sr. José Silva, Artistas Unidos da America, Vivian Francisco, Carlos & Kelly, Mom, Dad (No one worked harder on this album than you did) e toda a comunidade Portuguesa pelo vosso carinho e apoio!!!

Ana Moura @ Symphony Space!!

Ever since I bought her album this summer in Portugal, Ana Moura's "Para Além Da Saudade" has been on repeat in my car... I can honestly say it is my favorite Fado album of all time with its diversity in Fados and originality. I was extremely disappointed when I didn't get the chance to see Ana Moura perform no Porto, Portugal like I planned to, but 2 weeks in Portugal doesn't give you too much time to do anything. But finally on Friday I saw Ana Moura's Concert at Symphony Space in NYC!!

The concert was amazing and full of surprises... The venue held about 700 people that were completely silent throughout the whole show. Ana Moura's performance was 90 minutes and not long enough! The guitarists couldn't be human, especially Angelo Freire on the Portuguese Guitar. He was unbelievable and only 19 years old!! After playing a guitarrada he also sang a Fado with Ana Moura and it turns out not only does he play well but he's a great singer too! A few songs later, another surprise... Tim Ries, The Rolling Stones' Saxophone player with whom Ana Moura is working on the Stones' Project with, came out and performed a few songs with her. Then she sang an amazing version of Barco Negro with the bass player, Filipe Larsen, modifying the Fado completely, turning it into the best version of the Fado I've ever heard. She also sang Fado Loucura without amplification like they do in the traditional Fado houses in Lisbon.

In order for Ana Moura to sing all of the Fados I wanted her to sing from her albums she would've had to been on stage for another 90 minutes... But all of the Fados on her setlist were well selected and really engaged the audience.

After the show was over, it seemed as though all of the young Fadistas from the Tri-State area were there; Michelle Pereira, Pedro Botas, Michael Da Silva, Diogo Arsenio, and I. We all got a chance to meet Ana Moura and besides from being the nicest and most simple Fadista I've ever met, she is stunningly beautiful!!

Here's a video of Ana Moura singing her latest single "Os Buzios" with the same guitarists that accompanied her in New York:

Below is an article of from the New York Times of the show:

March 31, 2008

Music Review | Ana Moura

Sorrow in Seductive Adornment

By JON PARELES

Sorrow wrapped in guitar filigree, elegant romance with a tragic undercurrent — that’s the tradition of Portuguese fado that Ana Moura joins. At Symphony Space on Friday night she started her World Music Institute concert facing not the audience but a band member: Angelo Freire on guitarra (Portuguese guitar), the round, high-strung instrument that’s inseparable from fado. She sang to the guitarra, begging it to break the silence and save her. She was dressed in black, with a shawl over her shoulders.

Fado (“fate”), which arose out of Lisbon cafes to become the most prized music of Portugal, takes itself that seriously. Every few songs in Ms. Moura’s set, she sang about fado itself. When she decided, just into her 20s, to sing fado rather than pop or rock, she had a fado written for her: “Sou do Fado, Sou Fadista” (“I Am of the Fado, I Am a Fado Singer”), a ballad that she sang on Friday more as a confession than a declaration. For one song she set aside the microphone to sing fado unamplified, as it is still sung in cafes and fado houses. Her voice swelled to fill Symphony Space.

In its most traditional form, fado is a collection of established melodies for which poets wrote sets of lyrics — analogous, in that way, to early blues. But fado is also, more flexibly, a musical style and a mindset. Along with Norah Jones and Sheryl Crow, Ms. Moura was asked to record Rolling Stones songs for an album produced by the Stones’ saxophonist, Tim Ries. On Friday night he sat in as she filled the Stones’ “No Expectations” with the pensive resignation of fado.

Her own group was a bare-bones trio: just Mr. Freire, José Elmiro Nunes on acoustic guitar and Filipe Larsen on acoustic bass guitar. They were all she needed to create fado’s slow-motion ballads or light-fingered oompahs, topped with the scurrying countermelodies of the guitarra. It’s music that exposes every vocal nuance, and Ms. Moura had nothing to hide. Her lush alto voice can be smoky and hesitant or clear and pointed, working up to a tremulous insistence that hints at fado’s Arabic connections. She made each song a series of small dramatic surges: glimmers of hope, hints of sensuality, passages of melancholy, glints of determination.

Fado isn’t always slow and mournful. Ms. Moura’s version of “Barco Negro,” a ghostly love song made famous by the queen of fado, Amália Rodrigues, had a swinging bass vamp while the musicians tapped percussively on their guitars. Ms. Moura’s fado never forgets about the music’s past, but it lives in the moment.

A Minha Madrinha do Fado: Anita Guerreiro!!

At my most recent performance in Newark, I was honored with a mini ceremony that will always be a big part of me. Before my performance, Anita Guerreiro, a huge name in Fado, theater, and television, walked to the middle of the hall and introduced me and shared with the audience some advice she gave me to succeed that made her choke up while she reflected on her long artistic career. After placing the xaile over my shoulders, it was official: Anita Guerreiro é a Madrinha do Fado da Nathalie Pires!!

I was happy that both my parents were there to see it along with my Madrinha de baptismo, Fatima Brás, and her family. (She gave me the xaile that Anita placed on my shoulders for my album release party back in September.)

I proceeded by singing "Foi Deus," the Fado that started it all for me and it also happens to be the first Fado Anita ever sang... It was a memorable night and I'm very proud to say "que a minha Madrinha do Fado é a grande Anita Guerreiro!"