Custodio Castelo

Voilà un disque formidable, pour tous les amoureux du fado, du Portugal, et/ou de la guitare - portugaise ou non ! Custódio Castelo a reçu en 2010 le Prix Amália Rodrigues dans la catégorie “Meilleur instrumentiste”: c’est tout dire!

Et il eut d’ailleurs le privilège d’être choisi par la Reine du Fado pour l’accompagner dans la dernière tournée qu’elle fit aux Etats-Unis.

Custódio Castelo est connu au Portugal pour être l’un des grands compositeurs et rénovateurs de la “guitare portugaise” (guitarra do fado), ce luth à 6 cordes doubles métalliques, qui donne toute sa saveur au fado (la deuxième guitare qui accompagne le fado est une guitare classique, appelée “viola”). “Custódio Castelo est sans conteste l’une des références indiscutables de la rénovation de la guitare portugaise ces dernières décennies”, a ainsi dit de lui le musicologue et ancien Secrétaire d’Etat à la culture Rui Vieira Nery, auteur du livre “Para uma história do fado” (Público, 2004), par ailleurs membre du jury du Prix Amália Rodrigues.

Et l’écoute du disque confirme tout le talent de ce compositeur et guitariste, que s’arrachent les grandes voix du fado: il a ainsi accompagné Mariza, Ana Moura, Maria da Fé, Raquel Tavares, et a collaboré étroitement pendant 2 ans avec Cristina Branco, lui composant plusieurs chansons.

Mais ce disque est purement instrumental - à l’exception d’un titre. Car Custódio Castelo, en l’espace de quelques albums et de plusieurs concerts, a décidé de donner une autre dimension à la guitare portugaise, en faisant d’elle un instrument à part entière, et non seulement un instrument d’accompagnement d’un chant. Rejoint ici par d’autres guitaristes - classiques ou basses - il nous offre des pièces qui, dans leur majorité, ne sont pas du fado, mais des compositions musicales puisant à diverses sources. Ainsi de “Quasi morna”, un titre “inspiré par la musique du Cap-Vert” annonce l’artiste. Ou de “Homenagem a Paredes”, qui vogue vers le tango. Et certaines sont d’une virtuosité et d’une énergie époustouflante ! Nous avons aimé le disque du début à la fin, et attendons vivement de voir l’artiste sur scène!

http://www.custodiocastelo.com/

http://www.myspace.com/custodiocastelo

- Le monde en musiques.blog.lemonde.fr

For the past few years it has seemed impossible to go to some well-travelled person's home without them extolling the many virtues of Portugal -- and of course fado, that aching folk style sung in bars and clubs late at night.

And of course artists such as the striking Mariza have become world music stars (although I can't seem to persuade many of the virtues of the modernist take on the style by Katia Guerreiro).

This album of original pieces by a fine guitarist (here also on the lute-like 12-string, and with a small ensemble) will satisfy the fado folk (although it isn't all in that style) but will also have great appeal for those whose tastes err towards the stately but passionate sound of tango.


Inspired by Amsterdam, the songs and styles of Cape Verde, bells in Stuttgart and of course the music of Portugal, this is world music of great breadth played with often breathtaking speed and fluidity.

There is also considerable emotional depth here (the tribute to Carlos Paredes) as much as introspective pieces (Maria Lunia) and uplifting dance. And the delightful Martim based on the sound of a music box.

Like the sound of this? Then try this.





By Graham Reid, posted Feb 6, 2011

- Elsewhere.co.nz/worldmusic

"The Art of the Potuguese Fado Guitar" propone 17 composizioni per chitarra portoghese che di volta in volta viene affiancata da altri strumenti: l'atmosfera complessiva è ardente ed appassionata come si conviene alla migliore tradizione musicale del paese.

"The Art of the Portuguese Fado Guitar" è inoltre arricchito da un libretto con esaustive informazioni sull'interprete ed il suo strumento.



Custodio Castelo ha il grande merito di aver creato nuove melodie per la chitarra portoghese (sei coppie di corde metalliche) e di averne fatto uno strumento da concerto che può essere suonato da solo o con accompagnamento. Nato in Portogallo, Custodio Castelo ha costruito la sua prima chitarra all’età di sette anni, scoprendone le sonorità attraverso gli album di Amalia Rodrigues. Con il tempo Castelo è diventato uno dei più importanti ed innovativi interpreti della chitarra portoghese, vincitore del prestigioso premio intitolato ad Amalia Rodrigues e con all’attivo invidiabili collaborazioni con alcuni dei nomi più significativi del fado come la sua beniamina Amalia Rodrigues, Carlos do Carmo, Mariza, Misia, Cristina Branco, Placido Domingo e molti altri ancora.



- ilgiardinodeilibri.it/music

De fado is de Portugese blues, die meestal door vrouwen gezongen wordt. Die worden dan wel weer door mannen begeleid op een speciale Portugese gitaar. Die Fado gitaar is dan ook meestal een begeleidingsinstrument. Bij Custodio Castelo is hij dat op het album The Art of the Fado Guitar maar heel af en toe, want meestal speelt Castelo hier solocomposities voor gitaar, vaak begeleid door basgitaar. Hij brengt de fado met zijn verfijnde en elegante spel daarmee soms bijna in het gebied van de klassieke muziek, maar op andere momenten speelt hij ook snoeihard en verdwijnen de blues en de melancholie van de fado wat uit beeld en wordt het bijna akoestische rock. Variatie genoeg dus. Castelo verkent en exploreert het gebied van de fado op een mooie, intelligente en avontuurlijke manier, en blijft constant prachtige muziek maken. Dat betekent dat je ruim een uur lang kennismaakt met alle facetten van de rijke fadotraditie, waarbij Castelo bovendien hier en daar nog wat grenzen slecht.
De Portugese of Fado gitaar lijkt overigens meer op een luit, met zijn peervormige klankkast, en het fraaie geluid zit ergens tussen dat van een middeleeuwse luit en een moderne klassieke gitaar in. Het instrument is twaalfsnarig (zes dubbele snaren eigenlijk).

- moor magazine

CUSTODIO CASTELO/Art of the Portuguese Fado Guitar: Well fado fans, this is the ax behind many of the voices you know and love, and if that's not enough, this cat is enough of a hitter that he's crossed over to singers like Sarah Brigthman and Placido Domingo as well. Easily in the class of international guitar greats as diverse as Paco deLucia or Angel Romero, Castelo's life and work seem seamless merged into one as he's at one with his ax. Any acoustic guitar fan will consider this one of the top finds of the year.
- Midwest record

“The Art of The Portuguese Fado” is more like a study of the form. Castelo is one of the most sought-after musicians and composers in the genre (he wrote all the songs on the disc and also others on Moura’s record), and has played with countless singers, including Amalia Rodrigues, Mariza and Placido Domingo. On this record, he takes us on a journey through the genre, playing multiple instruments and going through many variations of the style. One example is “Amsterdam,” a gorgeous duet between his guitar and Ricardo Dias’ flawless accordion (an instrument rarely used in fado). He also blends Portugal with Argentina with “Dança em Tango,” a syncopated medieval-like dance.

Other standouts include the heartfelt “Homenagem a Paredes,” a sad tune written in honor of guitar master Carlos Paredes (1925-2004), who fell ill and was unable to play his instrument for the last decade of his life, and “Prece,” a tune based on the poetry of Pedro Homem de Mello—the sole track with vocals, sung here by veteran vocalist Cristina Maria
- music.newcity.com

Custodio Castelo "The Art Of The Portugese Fado Guitar" (Arc Music, 2011)
(Produced by Eduardo de Sousa & Fernando Nunes)
Portuguese fado music is a genre like jazz or bluegrass or the blues, which has a very formal, historic style that lends itself to codification and often to a stiff, static feel. It's beautiful, soulful, striking, but can seem like it's come to a creative impasse. Lisbon-based guitarist Custodio Castelo is the welcome exception: this album is multi-facted and richly innovative, taking the distinctive sound of fado guitar and giving it new context and new life. His arrangements are inventive and unique, yet still have the emotional resonance of traditional fado. A worthy heir to the late Carlos Parede, Castelo is one of the most popular guitarists on the contemporary Portuguese scene, having performed with Cristina Branco, Carlos de Carmo, Misia, and even the legendary Amalia Rodrigues. You can see why: he is a marvelous and creative stylist, and this album is deeply rewarding and fresh... If you've sampled fado in the past and wondered what the fuss was about, you might want to give this album a try -- it's quite good.


- slipcue.com

Largely instrumental CD featuring original compositions by the world’s leading player of the Portuguese guitar (guitarra do fado); a lute with 6 double strings. The sound is amazing & the music is beautiful. Play any track.

- WRVV Reviews

Custodio Castelo - The Art of the Portuguese Fado Guitar
Fado is a music from Portugal that traditionally features a singer,a classical guitarist and a Portuguese guitarist. Portuguese guitars are a different animal altogether with a distinct oval shaped body and 12 strings,strung in six courses and is traditionally played with just the thumb and index finger. This Cd features Castelo playing instrumentals with various guests.
- Guitar Omnivore

Reviewby Chris Nickson

Custódio Castelo is the world's leading player of the Portuguese guitar, the instrument that helps give the country's fado music its poignant sing. But he's more than a great musician, he's also a remarkable composer, as this album of original work shows. He's accompanied many of the great modern fadistas, but this is primarily an instrumental disc where his talents have real chance to shine (there is one vocal track, "Prece," with Cristina Maria doing the singing honors). His writing evokes places and moods ("Amsterdam" and "Ritos," for instance). Although he's a very evocative player, Castelo rarely flashes his virtuosity. He does make an exception on "Homenagem a Paredes," where his opening flourish of notes is jaw-droppingly magnificent. His instrument is capable of fine nuances of emotion, and he uses them well, especially for melancholy, but also for a sense of jubilation. It's a remarkable record, eloquent, sophisticated, and yet ineffably rooted in Portugal, a work from a true master.

- All Music

Renowned Portuguese guitarist Custódio Castelo has released an album titled The Art of Portuguese Fado Guitar – Tempus (ARC Music). Winner of the 2010 Amália Rodrigues Foundation award, ‘Best Instrumentalist’,Custódio Castelo is perhaps best known as the regular guitarist for Cristina Branco, playing on her albums and accompanying her on tour. He has also performed with and featured on recordings by such fado luminaries as Jorge Fernando, Mariza, Ana Moura, Raquel Tavares and Argentina Santos, among others.

In the 1990s Castelo was given the great honor of accompanying the “Queen of Fado”, Amália
Rodrigues, during her final concerts in the United States. With “Tempus” Castelo presents 17 beautiful, original compositions for the Portuguese guitar, all instrumental, with the exception of the song “Prece” featuring the upand-coming fadista Cristina Maria and based on a poem by the Portuguese poet Pedro Homem de Mello.

The Art of Portuguese Fado Guitar – Tempus features an instrumental piece entitled “Homehagem a Paredes”, a tribute to the acknowledged master of the Portuguese guitar, Carlos Paredes, who passed away in 2004: “The moment I knew that the master was ill, I dedicated to him my pain”, says Castelo.

This album was recorded in 2004, at a time when Castelo too feared an untimely end to his career due to health problems. Thinking he may never be able to play again, Castelo entered the studio and recorded these seventeen tracks.

“Tempus”, then, can be seen as the intended life’s-work of this generation’s most talented exponent of the guitarraportuguesa.

Thankfully Castelo’s health recovered fully and he continues to make music. In December 2010 Castelo was awarded the prestigious Award of the Amália Rodrigues Foundation for ‘Best Instrumentalist’, an accolade he received with great humility as it was the music of Amália Rodrigues which inspired him to first pick up the guitarra portuguesa as a teenager.

- world music central

One of the great masters of the guitarra gives us an album that showcases the 12-string lute/guitar's expressive qualities in compositions old and new, and with a dozen studio guest musicians. In the only fado song, by singer Cristina Maria, the classic accompanying role of the instrument is delicately exposed, but Castelo's imagination and beautiful technique elsewhere explore the myriad possibilities of the still evolving instrument's repertoire and capabilities.

- News scotsman

A 12-string twanging career comeback

Custódio Castelo is one of the today’s finest players of the 12-stringed Portuguese guitar. He is perhaps best known as the regular guitarist for Cristina Branco (he is also her ex-husband). This, his own album, was recorded in 2004 at a time when it seemed his career was coming to a premature close, after he had ruptured the ligaments in his right shoulder. Castelo gathered together some of the most eminent Portuguese musicians, including Jorge Fernando (who gave him his first break in the recording studio in the mid-80s), to record these 17 tracks as a kind of summation of his art. Fortunately this wasn’t the end and, following surgery, Castelo made a good recovery.

Extraordinary pressure often yields extraordinary results and this is a wonderful album. From the opening riffs there’s virtuosity and invention and, as the disc spins on, its range becomes clear. There’s warmth and rhythms of Cape Verde on ‘Quase Morna’, the mordancy of tango on ‘Danca em Tango’, a sense of improvisation and experimentation on ‘Converza’, and a feeling of doleful longing on ‘Prece’, which features the vocals of Cristina Maria. ‘Martim’ unfolds logically and inexorably, almost like a Bach harpsichord study, with Castelo’s guitar sounding like a child’s music box. The pivotal track of the album is a seven-and-a-half-minute homage to the legendary guitarist, Carlos Paredes, the ‘man with a thousand fingers’, who died in 2004. It achieves remarkable poignancy and sensitivity, with breathtaking ensemble playing between three guitarists.
- Songlines