Tito Paris

Tito Paris, «the dear child of São Vicente», began his professional career in a family of musicians in Mindelo when he was nine; first, he has been initiated by his brothers to the cavaquinho, then to the guitar; later he became a bass-player before to take his chances composing his owns songs. He was around 19 when Bana, the famous Capeverdean singer based in Lisbon, Portugal, invited Tito to join his band, The Voz de Cabo Verde.

In Lisbon, Tito got soon his fame on the very flourishing Capeverdean musical scene: besides Bana, he was backing many other musicians, such as Dany Silva, Paulino Vieira, Paulo de Carvalho, Celina Peirera, or Vitorino… But it was as a composer that he made a name for himself, writting songs for many singers like Bana and Cesaria Evora. With a wealth of success on the Lisboan scene, he founded his own band with which he offered a acoustic but also electric show.

In the acoustic formation (piano, cavaquinho, bass, clarinet) Tito, who accompanied himself on the guitar, sang amazingly, with his husky voice, the standards of the Capeverdean morna; in its electric version and with an excellent brass section, the band that was really guitar oriented, gave a colorful and energetic show, that was composed of coladeras. And Tito has already become a coladera master.

Previously, Tito Paris has recorded two albums: Tito Paris ( released in Portuga, 1987) and Dança ma mi criola (on the Boston based label, MB Records in 94). His first record produced by Lusafrica, Graça de tchega, was released in October 96. On that occasion, Tito performed in Paris, Brussels, in the Netherlands and for the ’97 Midem in Cannes. But Tito’s heart belongs to Lisbon, his adoptive city, where he likes to perform. That’s where that, in June 98, Lusafrica decided to record a live album, at the Club B. Leza.