Francisco Fialho Songs & Melodies From Portugal CD

Francisco Fialho is a singer and composer of fado music, Portugal's slow blues. But this album is folk music. Many pieces are traditional, and even the originals seem to have been composed in a traditional style. Fialho sings on about half the pieces, while Silva plays classical guitar and Fonesca plays the Portuguese guitar, which is oval and has 12 strings. Fialho has an expressive voice and clearly knows how to sing, but some listeners may find him too hokey. The real stars of this two-CD set are the guitarists. When they play an instrumental, like the fast and fun "Corridinho do Mequinho" or provide the slow, almost Satie-like backup on "Rosas do Meu Jardin," they greatly impress. On a song like "O Pastor," the Portuguese guitar comes more to the fore, sounding almost like an autoharp with its ringing tone. On the second disc an instrumental like "Variacoes Em Re" has a quasi-classical form but sounds like mariachi music. On "Amigos," Fialho sings more tenderly than usual and consequently sounds more sincere. A qualified recommendation. ~ Kurt Keefner

Personnel includes: Francisco Fialho (vocals); Jose Maria Fonseca, Americo Silva (guitar).