A collection of songs of devotion – love for Cape Verde and for the sea which sometimes takes her away from that place. Cesaria Evora is the high priestess of saudade – her gorgeous words coalesce in a reeling sway of music that mixes African and Portuguese music, salsa, samba, quadrille, lundum and fado. Rogamar (roga – to pray, mar – the sea) blends the pure rhythms of her island’s batucada with street violins, guitars, piano — all sumptuously arranged by Jaques Morelenbaum.

Nazir Black, Readings Carlton