Ana Moura

The stream of fadistas coming out of Portugal has been steady, and it would be easy to dismiss newcomers as trendy train-hoppers. But from the first note, Ana Moura disarms potential critics. Her charm lies in her unstudied approach to the fado: she offers each vocal trill, each soaring clarion call, with a spontaneity that's rare in even the most practiced fado singers. (Perhaps her history as a rock singer has something to do with it.) Moura, who comes from a musical family and has been singing since childhood, was discovered at a Christmas party by noted fadista Maria De Fe, who invited the singer to perform at her fado house -- a small, intimate gathering place where fadistas perform without microphones to a roomful of strangers. The fado house allows singers to polish their skills, learn their repertoire and, in a sense, earn their wings. Moura did just that, and has since moved onto the European circuit, charming fado fans with her fresh approach and effortless vocal style.