There's a passage in the liner notes of Maria de Barros' latest album Dança Ma Mi-- Dance With Me (Narada), that describes the allure of Cape Verdean music more articulately than I could ever hope to. Danny Luchansky, guitarist, co-producer and co-arranger of the disc, states in part: "The music of Cabo Verde is melody and flowing rhythm. Its humility is such that it comes to the listeners without stridency and sophistication, but instead with freshness and innocence. The music is real, earthly. The sound is organic -- its instruments acoustic, imperfect and sincere."...