With Danae (vocals and guitar), Yohannes Krieger (trumpet), Danilo Silva (guitar and vocals), Raimund Engelhardt (tabla).
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Joseph Lienen.
Video produced in 2009, filmed in Lisbon, Tavira, and Germany.
In the very heart of Lisbon, in Praça da Figueira, a few floors above the Doll Hospital, Danae and the New Creoles were creating and refining the album Cafuca. It took months of nights and days, recording the creative process alongside exceptional and inventive musicians.
A fond memory from those sessions is the rehearsal of a traditional Cape Verdean lullaby, adapted by Danae and interpreted not just as accompaniment, but with profound artistry by the musicians: Na minino na, in this rehearsal at Praça da Figueira. A single shot, no editing.
From the intention of one day making a documentary, what remains today are dozens of tapes and the music video Carta Verde. First recorded in Praça da Figueira, we then moved to the “donkey house” near Tavira, for rehearsals with Raimund Engelhardt (tabla). The work continued, with further recordings at the “Sinal 26” studio in Lisbon. Finally, we traveled to Germany for the final mixes—a careful effort that added even more quality and value to the CD.
The album Cafuca is a pleasure to listen to from the first track to the last. A hand with five fingers: Danae, Raimund, Danilo, Yohannes, and in sound, Jo Linen.
It never made it into mainstream distribution. But that doesn’t stop it from being a surprising and beautiful album.
If you haven’t heard it yet, search for it on Spotify.
Sabura!