Lady Sings the Blues, Portuguese Style

MARIZA AT KAHILU THEATRE AT 7 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY

Chicago blues.

            Delta blues.

            Portuguese blues?

            Mariza, the new queen of the blues – Portuguese style – brings her sultry singing to Waimea’s Kahilu Theatre for a first-ever Big Island performance at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

            Already a sensation in Europe, Mariza sings fado, a traditional ballad style that is Portugal’s equivalent to what is considered the blues in the United States.

            Fado, which translates as “fate,” is music of exquisite sadness.  Although its origins are disputed, it seems to have emerged in Lisbon in the 19^th century from a blend of African, Brazilian, Arab and Jewish traditions.

            Sung originally in brothels and taverns, the lyrics – often poems that are set to music – express emotions such as sorrow, jealousy, longing, love and grief.  A 12-string Portuguese guitar often accompanies the lyrics.

            In the hands of singer Mariza Nunes, best known simply as Mariza, fado is also a music of subtle shadings and unexpected possibilities.

            Although she’s just 29, Mariza’s two albums and striking stage presence have already established her as a worthy successor to Amalia Rodrigues (1920-1999), considered the grande dame of fado.

            Yet, Mariza isn’t content just recreating the past.  Musically, she has set herself on an ambitious path by honoring and updating the tradition.

            Born in Mozambique, she moved as a child with her family to Lisbon.  By age 5 she began singing in her parents’ restaurant.  In her early 20s, she began taking her fado talents seriously; soon after she received her first national exposure as a guest in tribute concerts to Rodrigues on television. 

            Recognition at home and abroad has come at an astonishing pace.  In 2000, she received the “Voice of Fado” award from Portugal’s national radio station and two years later her debut CD “Fado Em Mim” achieved gold status in that country.  She has also had two nominations as “Best European Artist” and “Best Newcomer Artist” for BBC Radio’s 2003 World Music Awards.

            This year she released her second CD, “Fado Curvo,” and id in the middle of an extensive tour of the United States that will include stops at the Hollywood Bowl and Kennedy Center. 

            Tickets to the performance cost $35, $30, and $25.  The Kahilu Theatre accepts Visa, MasterCard and American Express and tickets may be ordered by calling the box office at 885-6868 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.