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Fado roots

- António Zambujo, part of the Cap Global Roots Series, Saturday, Oct. 8, at 8 p.m. at the North Shore Credit Union Centre for the Performing Arts at Capilano University. Tickets: $32/$29, visit www.capilanou.ca/ nscucentre.

- António Zambujo, part of the Cap Global Roots Series, Saturday, Oct. 8, at 8 p.m. at the North Shore Credit Union Centre for the Performing Arts at Capilano University. Tickets: $32/$29, visit www.capilanou.ca/ nscucentre.

WHILE in recent years António Zambujo has incorporated other genres in his music - jazz, bossa nova and African included - he never strays too far from the folk tradition of his homeland.

"The base is the fado and it will always be my base as a musician," he says. The award-winning Portuguese fado singer is making his North American premiere this fall and is set to make a stop at Capilano University, Saturday.

"Music came to my life when I was very, very young," he says. Born in Beja in the south of Portugal, Zambujo was attracted to the region's male choral chants (cante alentejano), and grew up trying to emulate them. He studied music, starting at age eight on the clarinet, and ultimately found his voice. In 2000, he settled in Lisbon to pursue performance.

"When I began it was exactly the traditional fado that was played here," he says.

However, he's continuing to branch out, bringing more and more sounds into his music.

That interest is evident on Zambujo's most recent album, 2010's Guia (Guide). The work features 11 original and three traditional songs. Rich in its cultural influences, it has "a little bit of everything," he says.

In December, Zambujo plans to begin recording Guia's follow, his fifth record, which will remain in the same vein in terms of its mix of classic and new works, as well as sonic exploration.

"I hope it will be an album as good as (Guia)," he says. Zambujo is excited about bringing his band to North America. He's performed here previously, but only for members of the Portuguese community. His current tour marks his first time playing for the general public in the United States and Canada.

"I hope I can do a good job, I hope the people will enjoy the music that I do so I can go back," he says.

Zambujo typically performs as a quintet, though for this tour he'll be performing as part of a quartet - Portuguese guitar, classic guitar, double bass and cavaquinho (the father of the ukulele).

When asked what he has on the horizon, Zambujo laughs: "Music, music, music," he says.

"Music is my life. I can't imagine myself doing other things in my life," he adds. "I really love it. It's like a gift. The best way to explain it is when you see a little child with something new. That's the way I feel when I make music, when I do something new, when I perform, when I see the audience. It's a great feeling and I want to keep it like this."

emcphee@nsnews.com