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Jan 29 2012

Alexandra Coutinho with Rio Con Brio: Fado/Fate


Luckily, Alexandra Coutinho and Rio Con Brio decided to make this a stand alone album. The plan was to feature Alexandra Coutinho on some tracks of Rio Con Brio's Caprice.

CD cover - Fado Fate

CD Tracks

  1. Uma Casa Portuguesa
  2. Abandono
  3. Cheira a Lisboa
  4. Eu Quero é Sossego
  5. Dura Memoria
  6. Coimbra/April in Portugal
  7. Canção da Embalar
  8. Odeon
  9. Medo
  10. Vou Dar de Beber á Dor
  11. Santa Bárbara
  12. Balada da Despedida

Published by Alexandra Coutinho and Rio Con Brio 2012

By Reidar Falch

Fado probably appeared after 1830 in Lisbon, Portugal. Portugal was then also strongly influenced from it's colony, Brazil, and most certainly Afro-Brazilian rhytms. It is not strange that fado and choro share the saudade. Fado and choro share influences.

Fadista (fado singer) Alexandra Coutinho was born outside Lisbon, Portugal. She learned fado from her grandmother and started getting into it during college. She is now living and performing in America.

Alexandra Coutinho's voice is warm, lively and convincing. Listening to this album is pure pleasure.

The duo Rio Con Brio, Tim Connell (mandolin) and Mike Burdette (guitar), are experienced choro musicians. Their backing of the songs is strong and dynamic. The album also features two instrumental choros, Eu Quero é Sossego (K-Ximbinho) and Odeon (E. Nazareth), by the duo. The well played choros blends seamlessly with the fado.

The mandolin is not strongly connected to the fado tradition. The relative, the Portuguese guitar is. Tim Connell restringed an old octave mandola to make a faux gitarre Portuguese. This can be heard on several tracks.

Luckily, this is a stand alone album.

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News - Feb 17 2012

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Magazine - Feb 6 2012

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Magazine - Jan 29 2012

Rio Con Brio started out to make one CD. As they recorded tracks, they realized they had two albums on their hands. One is their third choro album, the other is the debut of fado singer Alexandra Coutinho.

Albums - Jan 29 2012

Luckily, Alexandra Coutinho and Rio Con Brio decided to make this a stand alone album. The plan was to feature Alexandra Coutinho on some tracks of Rio Con Brio's Caprice.

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