Cape Verdean music is finally finding its place on the world map of dance music. Living in Lisbon, Tito Paris has been an active participant in this emergence. A fine guitarist, songwriter and singer with a sunny swing, he carries the joyful or melancholy elan of Cape Verdean music everywhere, while personifying contemproary Portugal's cosmopolitan nature and the African swing of its capital.
Tito Paris has been described as looking like a child, but having the talent of a giant. From a family of musical fisherman on the Cape Verdean island of Mindelo—home of Cesaria Evora—Tito traveled first to Portugal at age 19 to play with Bana's group La Voz de Cabo Verde. From there, he went solo, achieving acclaim as a singer, bandleader, guitarist and composer across the Cape Verdean diaspoira. Known as much for his compositions as his performances, Paris blends the sounds of Cape Verdean traditional mornas, coladeiras and funanas with the modern sounds of Portugal, Brazil and international pop.
Known primarily as a live musician for the force and heat of his shows, Tito's recordings nonetheless are able to capture this power and bring the listener through a wide range of emotions. —Courtesy Calabash Music
