Virginia Rodrigues October 29, 2005

$30

Virginia Rodrigues became known in 1997 when the great Caetano Veloso, a legend of Brazilain music, fell in love with her voice at a concert in the singer's hometown of Salvador de Bahia. Before then, she earned her living as a cook and manicurist and sang in church choirs, at town events and private parties. It was Veloso's guidance that led Virginia to begin her recording career at the age of 33.

With a voice tailored as much to concert halls as to the streets of Bahia, Virginia has been compared to Sade, Jessye Norman, Cesaria Evora and Clementina de Jesus. These comparisons are surely the reason her music attracts world music and jazz fans as well as lovers of classical music and opera.

Virgina has three albums, the latest, "Mares Profundos," "Sol Negro" and "Nos." On "Mares Profundos," Virgínia, along with her mentor Caetano Veloso and producer/guitarist Luiz Brasil, presents a fascinating look at Afro-Bahian music and culture. Her new album is devoted to the "Afro Sambas," a legendary collection of songs written by Vinicius de Moraes and Baden Powell. De Moraes, the author of the lyrics of most great songs of bossa nova, such as Girl From Ipanema and the film music of Orfeo Negro, wrote a series of sambas which pay a tribute to the African culture of Bahia.