January pinup....Maria Volonte

[Martin Reynolds]

A track from the Songlines calendar featured artist for January:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpHRaM0P_Qc

[Lateralthinking1]

Yes, I like that a lot. Her voice is very natural and the accompaniment is spot on.

[Martin Reynolds]

More info:

http://www.networkmedien.de/467-0-Ma...ait-Tango.html

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

i recently came across MS Volonte's name by chance and checked her out on youtube, found myself unmoved .... normally i am a sucker for her type of singer, have to try again .. [now come across her name twice in a few days]

[Paul Sherratt]

Calum,

I think you're right to have reservations. However one or two songs on the cd that they will be using to raise the lady's profile
to us worldly europeans are rather attractive covers of some classic numbers. Now no doubt she'll get an airing or two on Late Night BBC Radio 3
( DJ Ritu played a track in her final show on New Year's Day ) but I hope our esteemed presenters will dig around the Ms Volonte album and give the listeners a chance to hear earlier versions of the songs.

" Déjame que te cuente limeño,
déjame que te diga la gloria,
del ensueño que evoca la memoria
del viejo puente, del río y la alameda.

Déjame que te cuente limeño,
ahora que aún perfuma el recuerdo,
ahora que aún se mece en un sueño
el viejo puente, el río y la alameda "

The opening to ' La Flor De La Canela '
Chabuca Granda wrote it and she's seen here performing her work
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXM687A0FE0
There are also fine versions by Lucha Reyes and Caetano Veloso

The dramatic 'Estranha Forma De Vida' is on Ms Volonte's new collection
But here's Amalia Rodrigues ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFgctURyGp4
Little wonder that all Portugal went in to mourning when that great lady passed on.

[johncorrigan]

Good to have you back Paul - Happy 2011. That Chabuca Grande was very fine indeed - she seemed to shed years as the song went on.... and quality spoon performance I thought.