Best of Cesária Évora [RCA]

Sultry, melancholic, lilting, and gorgeous, the music of Cesaria Evora has the power to seduce completely on first listen. Hailing from Cape Verde, Evora is a master of the morna (a sound indigenous to the islands), but is also adept at various styles that synthesize the music of Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America. In addition to skimming the highlights from Evora's studio work, the set also includes previously unreleased bonus tracks, such as her duet with the singer Bonga on Evora's famous "Sodade." Longtime fans will likely have the albums from which these tracks are culled, but for the uninitiated THE VERY BEST will provide an excellent and essential introduction.