Jongando

The last time we had heard of Brazilian singer Catia Werneck she was following a common path within the country's musical boundaries: that place where bossa nova endlessly flirts with jazz and immediately brings to mind the genius of Elis Regina. But Werneck is no Regina – no one is – and she is now exploring a musical identity that eludes easy comparisons, without sounding contrived while at it. She does not shove away her jazz nature, ‘To Bem’ being a good example.

The album Jongando came to life after Werneck met with bassist and guitarist Munir Hossn. The key to her transformation is jongo, a traditional music ancestor to samba. It's exciting that she took on a traditional form that clearly expands her art and enriches her singing. This is, give or take, what Carmen Souza has been doing with Theo Pascal with stunning results; the difference being that Souza fuses jazz with Cape Verdean traditional music. Now that Catia Werneck has found her way, let's hope she ventures deeper into it. We will be keeping an eye on her.