Every country seems to have its own form of emotional music; we have the blues, and Portugal has fado (which means 'fate'). The leading fado singer of the last century was the late Amalia Rodriguez and, at a 1999 concert in her memory, a young artist galvanized the audience. The next year Mariza received the "Voice of Fado" award from Central FM (Portugal's national radio station).

Her first CD to be released in the United States, "Fado em Mim," revealed a powerful, haunting voice filled with emotion. The accompaniment there was traditional, featuring the distinctive Portuguese 12-string guitar. Her next album, "Transparente," was a departure, at least in accompaniment. The singer traveled to Brazil to work with Jacques Morelenbaum, the cellist/arranger for Caetano Veloso. Her last CD, "Concerto em Lisboa," was a live recording with a symphonic orchestra, conducted by Jacques Morelenbaum in the gardens of Belem, Lisbon.

Her new CD, "Terra," represents a departure in some of the material and accompaniments but Mariza remains a force of nature, performing mostly melancholy songs filled with saudade, the Portuguese word that conveys a sort of longing for something that may never return. "Terra" begins with traditional fado but it moves into other areas, with the help of Spanish producer Javier Limon.  "Beijo de Saudade" is a Cape Verdean morna, with Tito Paris joining Mariza on the vocals. "Vozes do Mar" features Sting's guitarist Dominic Miller. Cuban jazz pianist Chucho Valdez appears of "Fronteira," about the borders between Portugal and Spain.

The album ends with Charlie Chaplin's "Smile" in a tasteful duo; just the singer (in slightly accented English) and Brazilian singer-songwriter Ivan Lins on piano.  Mariza is free to roam the planet and experiment with other styles though she always has the throb of fado in her voice.