Gira Sol (Rpkg) [Original recording remastered]

Bana | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 22, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: High Times Records
• ASIN: B000OLHGBG
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #395,223 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #56 in Music > World Music > Africa > Cape Verde

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

Since his debut album in 1962, recorded in Dakar, Senegal, Adriano Gonçalves ("Bana") has remained one of the most beloved Cape Verdean singers to ever emerge from these 10 tropical West African islands. A master at interpreting the deeply mournful laments of Morna, Bana is a highly revered singer and the artist most instrumental to the introduction of Cape Verdean music to Guinea Bissau, Senegal, Angola and Portugal. In recognition of his enormous contribution to Cape Verdean music, he was decorated with Medal of Merits by both the President of Cape Verde, Dr. Mascarenhas Monteiro, and the former President of Portugal, Dr. Mario Suares, in 1992 and 1995, respectively.

Born on March 5, 1932 in a small port city of Mindelo, on the island of Sao Vicente, Bana began singing at the young age of fourteen. A passionate music lover, he stated out following the local Mindelense singers on their serenade nights of Mindelo; an adventure which got him plenty of punishment from his mother. One faithful night, he decided to jump in the bandwagon and hold his own serenade party at the doorstep of his house. As the news of the young crooner began to spread around the busy city, his mother began to get barraged with requests to allow the young lad out at night to sing in the local parties and ceremonies, the same parties he always got punished for attending earlier.

Around 1953, Bana met the man who would later become the most influential person in his musical journey, the late renown Cape Verdean composer, Francisco Xavier da Cruz ("B. Leza"). At first, Bana spent a lot of time with B. Leza writing down the lyrics of his new compositions. Soon B. Leza began relying on him to interpret his songs "live" on the local radio station: Bana on lead vocal and B. Leza on guitar. B. Leza quickly became fond of Bana's voice, often telling him "you have the voice of a bull".

However, being gifted with a beautiful voice was not enough. B. Leza still had to teach Bana how to phrase effectively. Now in his 50's, paralyzed and confined to a wheel chair, B. Leza also suffered from shortness of breath. This factor led him to develop an array of unique phrasing techniques, considered today standard in interpreting Mornas. First, he almost always rushed the beginning of long phrases to create a sense of urgency in his melodies. Second, after pausing in the middle for a quick breath, he loved to dramatize the end of phrases by stretching the syllables beyond their normal length only to end abruptly, leaving the listener with a feeling of suspense and drama. Third, he often swallowed syllables and even entire words, creating vacuums (ghost words) and pockets in rhythms heretofore unknown in signing Morna. Although B. Leza used these embellishments as a way to accommodate for his illness, they were executed with such mastery and grace that in turn they came to define a new style of phrasing Morna's emotionally charged lyrics. Thus it is by no coincidence that Bana's singing style is marked by lots of melodic retards and unpredictable rhythms, a factor which has made him even more unique amongst Cape Verdean singers.

In 1958, however, B. Leza took sick and died, leaving Bana at the age of 26 without a teacher or reason to remain in Mindelo. He soon left to Dakar, where in 1962 he recorded his debut album. Composed of merely four songs, the album was a huge success, selling 2,000 units in merely two weeks. Commencing with his first release, the name Bana became a household name in Cape Verde and the entire immigrant communities of France, Holland, Italy, Portugal, Angola, Mozambique, Guinea Bissau and the United States.

Three years later in 1965, he moved to France, then to Holland where he recorded his next two albums, "Nha Terra" (My Country) and "Pensamento e Segredo" (Thought and Secret). Both albums were again received with huge success. Having secured a name for himself in the Cape Verdean market, Bana decided to organized and lead his own band, Voz de Cabo Verde (Voice of Cape Verde).

In 1967, he recorded his forth album in France, entitled "Bana au Paris", in his way to Portugal, still in search of a better life.

In 1968, he was contracted for an extensive tour of Angola where he was received as a "star". He staid in Angola for over a month performing two to three times a week to sold out concert houses and sport arenas in the capital city of Luanda and the province of Malange. Returning to Portugal, he opened Lisbon's first "live" music club and Cape Verdean restaurant, "Monte Cara". While the nightclub became Lisbon's mecca for African music, the restaurant grew to such a reputable house, attracting heads of state from many countries of Africa and Europe. Bana continued his music career, touring and recording under the music direction of one of Cape Verde's brilliant artists, Paulino Vieira.

In 1986, he announced his retirement from with an extensive tour in Cape Verde and through out the Cape Verdean communities in the diaspora.

Now at the age of 65, Bana returns from semi-retirement with his first album in nearly 10 years, Gira Sol (MB Records). Recorded "live in studio", Gira Sol is arranged and produced by Ramiro Mendes, a Berklee College of Music graduate, arranger and film scorer. The album features seven (7) Coladeras and three (3) Mornas, spiced with intricate horn and woodwind arrangements.

Having recorded over thirty (30) albums all of which are now considered "classics", Bana stands alone as both the master and the elder statesman of Cape Verdean music. His unique singing style, marked by beautifully timed melodic retards and soulful embellishments have become the hallmark of both Morna and Coladera. Standing at nearly seven feet tall and having conquered the hearts of Cape Verdean music lovers for over 35 years, Bana is not only the "Giant" but also the "King" of Cape Verde Islands.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ABSOLUTELY AWESOME MUSIC & LYRICS!, October 10, 2000

By 

"acrayriz" (ESTES PARK, COLORADO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gira Sol (Audio CD)

IF CESARIA EVORA IS THE QUEEN FROM CAPE VERDE...BANA IS THE KING FROM THE CAPE ISLANDS...I WISH HE WOULD CUT ANOTHER CD FAST. BUY GIRA SOL IT'S SUPERB. JUST CAN'T STOP LISTENING TO HIS MUSIC & SUPERB VOICE.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gira sol is a flavorful taste of the Cape Verdian culture., January 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Gira Sol (Audio CD)

I actually met Bana when I was in Cape Verde. His voice is very unique and traditional. The songs that he sings talk about life in Cape Verde. If you like music from Africa, this is a must for your music library.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bunzin li - Bunzin la, March 11, 2008

By 

Evelise Goncalves (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gira Sol (Rpkg) (Audio CD)

Gira Sol is an amazing album, well arranged and Bana really demonstrated his talent and his beautiful voice