(Sebastopol, California) Sonoma County's world-class allergy attacks did not stop Cape Verde's Fantcha from a warm smile that said "yes" to an interview. First there were autographs to sign. Looking just a little tired after completing a national tour in support of her first U.S. record, Criolinha, (Tinder Records) , Fantcha whose real name is Francelina Durao Almeida, sat down to talk to her fans.Before heading back to her home in New York, Fantcha, a protegé of Cesaria Evora, played to a well-attended show at the Powerhouse in Sebastopol. She was accompanied by a crack four-piece band that played the smooth Afro-Portuguese rhythms similiar to the Brazilian samba and the Angolan semba. All that was lacking was the occasional shouting of "lleva" by the band.

Although many people associate Cape Verde with Cesaria Evora's soulful morna (think American blues), Fantcha surprised everyone by playing her islands' upbeat rhythms. "I sing the coladeira, which is more for partying," she answered to my question about the kind of rhythms we had heard, "and more exciting than the morna, which is usually played acoustic."

"Partying" indeed described the club's atmosphere as dancers thronged the tiny dance floor, swaying to balmy rhythms redolent with African, Brazilian and Cuban flavors. Along with selections from Criolinha, which means beautiful little girl from Cape Verde, Fantcha's repertoire included "Soldade," Cape Verde's most popular song. It was "Soldade" written by Luis Morais and Amandio Cabral that put the former Portuguese-controlled islands on the worldbeat map when Cesaria Evora took it to the top of the European hit parade several years ago.

As Fantcha engaged her audience in a call and response during the chorus, one didn't have to be a linguist to feel "Soldade's" tug of emotions. " 'Soldade' comes from the time of slavery. It comes from a time of being hurt," Fantcha explains. "The Portuguese colonized us and took us away from our loved ones. When we sing it, we are sharing from our hearts. 'Soldade' also means sorrow, it means missing family and country (for) we are leaving our loved ones behind. It touches me whenever I sing it."

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"Cesaria Evora? She is like a mother to me. She brought me into the world of music."

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Things have not gotten better economically for this former Portuguese colony. Since independence, more people have left Cape Verde than stayed, including Fantcha. Even her backup band is now living in Boston. "Cape Verde is beautiful and very peaceful, but there is no opportunity for the young people to work. That's why I'm here." At the mention of her mentor, Fantcha's face brightens. "Cesaria Evora? She is like a mother to me. She brought me into the world of music. She invited me to a gig and I sang one song and she liked me. So I went with her everywhere she sang. So now, they think I'm her daughter," she laughs. "Thanks to Cesaria -- she was the one who really inspired me. I love her and will always respect her. She is the Queen of Cape Verde."

If Evora is the Queen then Fantcha is a member of the royal court. After recording her first album in Portugal and touring Europe and America with Evora, Fantcha decided to emigrate. No stranger to hard work, she's been holding down day jobs until her big break.  And the future? "Working hard and hoping that the future will include becoming well known. Criolinha is just my first step. I've been living in New York for the past nine years and just working. But I like to play music in different places."

Surrounded by her label reps and downplaying her allergy attack, Fantcha swirled out of the San Francisco Bay area leaving behind wonderful memories of the popular music of Cape Verde.

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