Évé

‘Canto Aberto’ is the only album Brazilian singer-songwriter Everaldo ‘Évé’ Marcial ever made and it’s a work of rare beauty. Born and raised in São Paulo in the early fifties Évé fled the Brazilian dictatorship in 1974 and ended up in France, recording ‘Canto Aberto’ with a band consisting of both Parisian musicians and fellow expatriates, including the great Manduka. Released a year later on the Free Lance imprint the album however failed to make the desired impact, causing Évé to quit music alltogether and move to the US to start yet another new life. You can’t help but wonder what would have happened if he hadn’t made such a radical decision, for Marcial is clearly an exceptionally gifted guitarist and songwriter who’s also blessed with a beautiful voice. On ‘Canto Aberto’ he navigates between well-constructed MPB, deep samba, jazzy freeform songwriting and folky Brazilian protest-style songs, placing him somewhere in the musical constellation of Egberto Gismonti, Nana Vasconselos, Milton Nascimento and Piry Reis, but with a haunting voice that’s entirely his own. Warm, spirited and beautifully detailed ‘Canto Aberto’ is a grower that will stay with you all summer and beyond.