The musical style of Fado is a kind of Portuguese version of the American blues, not unlike Saudade in Brazil. Vocalist and composer Maria Mendes teams up with American jazzer Beasley, who supplies keyboards, orchestrations and percussion, along with Karel Boehlee/p, Jasper Somsen/dr and the Metropole Orkest for a rich blend of Iberian folk and modern jazz.
There are a handful of Mendes teaming her gorgeously nasal voice with the rich orchestra, resulting in a swaying “Ha Uma Musica Do Povo,” a serpentine “Barco Negro” and a gorgeously melancholy “Asas Fechadas.” On the more jazzy side, she is urgent on “Verdes Anos” and with Vincent Houdijk’s vibes she is cheerful on “Temp Emotive” while pleading with Boehlee on the gloriously agonizing “E Se Nao For Fado.” Mendes composes a lion’s share of the material, revealing another strength. When’s she coming to the West Coast? WHEW!