On her new CD Abril Cristina Branco pays tribute to the work of the Portuguese singer José "Zeca" Afonso. His music and lyrics including the legendary Grândola Vila Morena played a significant part in the Carnation Revolution of 1974 that brought an end to the military dictatorship in Portugal. Abril sounds jazzier than the music we are used to hearing from Cristina Branco. While the Portuguese fado is all about suffering, nostalgia and the uncertainty of fate, Branco has always been open to other influences. She loves beauty, harmony and poetry. Time and again her magnificent voice, the empathic interpretations and the inventive arrangements of the band create a special ambience on the stage. Originally, the fado did not seem to be the style for which Branco had been born. It was only when her grandfather gave her a record of Amália Rodrigues for her 18th birthday that Branco felt she was predestined to sing this type of music. Today she is regarded as one of the most talented singers of the new generation. Abril was showered with praise by the critics.
