Teofilo Chantre “Cape Verde Metissage”

Teofilo Chantre appeared in 1992 in the wake of Cesaria Evora, becoming one of her favorite singer-songwriters after composing three titles for “Miss Perfumado”: the most famous album of the Cape Verdean diva.

He then wrote the lyrics for the song “Ausencia”, which Cesaria interpreted for the soundtrack of Emir Kusturica’s film “Underground”, on a gypsy-inspired theme by Goran Bregovic, the official composer of the Bosnian director.

Amid traditional Cape Verdean rhythms, jazz, and bossa nova, Teofilo Chantre enriches his repertoire and develops his vocal and musical style.

A committed poet or a romantic, Chantre celebrates “sodade” (incurable nostalgia for his native homeland), the collective memories of the struggle against the harshness of life, childhood, youth, happy or conflicting loves, the main themes of “Rodatempo”.

An inspired melodist, faithful to the instrumentation (guitar, cavaquinho, violin, piano) and traditional forms of morna and coladera, poignant songs or dance tunes from the islands of Cape Verde, a lover of Cuban and Brazilian music, Teofilo reveals himself as a skilled arranger, blending chamber music with Creole jazz. Thanks to the countless concerts that followed the release of his previous albums, he has strengthened and softened his vocal tone with a smoky veil.

Close to Brazilian bossa nova singers for his velvety voice and the “cool swing” of the guitar, borrowing the soft strings of Cuban charanga, Teofilo excels in the bittersweet, tender, and sophisticated register beloved by Cesaria. Some songs (Cruz de Jom d’Ebra, Ponta Linda) seem to be written for him, in the style of the great composer B. Leza… Sweet mornas, slow coladeras, romantic boleros, an elegant melancholy atmosphere persists even on the most danceable parts, dominated by the rustic accordion (Tchoro Quemode) and carnival drums (Rosario). Teofilo Chantre elevates his melodies to the status of standard compositions that have the qualities of Cape Verdean repertoire classics.

In Italy, Chantre boasts important collaborations, mainly linked to the discographic project ONU “Cape Verde, land of love”, produced by journalist and record producer Alberto Zeppieri. In particular, duets and collaborations with: Ornella Vanoni, Eugenio Bennato, Grazia Di Michele, Antonella Ruggiero, Peppe Voltarelli, Mariella Nava, Ron, Gianni Morandi, Gigi D’Alessio, Lucilla Galeazzi, Bruno Lauzi, Massimo Ranieri, Fabio Concato, Gigliola Cinquetti, Goran Kuzminac, Cristiano Malgioglio, Paolo Fresu, and Giusy Ferreri.
Also of note is a text adapted by Teofilo in Cape Verdean Creole dialect for Adriano Celentano and a Chantre song brought to success by Santana with Gloria Estefan.

Essential Discography:

• 1994: Terra & Cretcheu (Lusafrica/BMG)
• 1997: Di Alma (Lusafrica/BMG)
• 2000: Rodatempo (Lusafrica/BMG)
• 2002: Dal vivo (Lusafrica/BMG)
• 2004: Azulando (Lusafrica/BMG)
• 2007: Viajá (Lusafrica/Sony/BMG)
• 2011: meStissage (Lusafrica/Sony Music)
• from 2009 to 2024: all 10 volumes of “Cape Verde, terra d’amore” (Numar Un/Egea/Sony Music)