chernov's choice
More and more international acts have included St. Petersburg in their tour schedules. Something of a sensation is Cesaria Evora, at the Oktyabrsky Concert Hall on Oct. 12. At the height of popularity of world and Afro-Latin music, West African singer Evora is a big hit in Russia. Her two concerts at the 953-seat Maly Theater in Moscow quickly sold out in May. Evora made her Moscow stage debut in April, when she sang with a great success at an elite private concert attended by businesspeople, politicians and television personalities. Hailed as the "Queen of Morna," she is the best-known singer in Cape Verde, and performs the islands' traditional music style - a soulful genre played in a minor-key, emotional tone. Stemming from European, African and Arabic roots, Morna songs are sad and sentimental folk tunes, accompanied by guitar, cavaquinho (a plucked lute of Portugal and Brazil), violin, accordion and clarinet. "Morna is like the blues, because it is a way to express life's suffering in music," she has been quoted as saying. Evora, who is known to her friends as Cize, was born in August 1941 in the port town of Mindelo on the Cape Verde island of Sao Vicente. The local music was influenced by passing sailors from Portugal, Argentina, Brazil and the Carribean. Though she sang at local cafes and bars in her young years, she gave up music due to financial problems in the 1970s, and started her career anew in 1988, at the age of 47. International fame came to her after her breakthrough album, "Miss Perfumado," in 1992. Her most recent release was "Sao Vicente di longe" in 2001. The possessor of a soulful, finely-tuned voice, with a touch of hoarseness, it is no small wonder that Evora names Nat King Cole as her favorite singer, although she admits she also likes American pop performers, such as Madonna, Michael Jackson and Prince. As far as the club scene is concerned, Ukraine's hottest export - Ya i Drug Moi Gruzovik - comes to town to play a series of shows. The minimalist rock trio from Kharkov will appear at Moloko on Saturday, and Fish Fabrique and then Red Club on Sunday. The band's new album, "Volanchik," will be available at the concerts. Vyborg's melodic punk band PTVP, also known as Posledniye Tanki v Parizhe, will return to play at Front this Saturday. Its last release, a live cassette called "DeVstvitelnost," was recorded at the bunker venue in February. Kolibaba, formed by accordion player Sveta Kolibaba - who became famous with Leningrad spin-off band Tri Debila - and featuring Leningrad tuba player Andrei Antonenko, returns to the scene at Moloko on Thursday. Another Leningrad-related band, Chirvonstsy, will appear at Orlandina this Saturday. - by Sergey Chernov
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