Khaly Angel and Chinese “little keyboard”

Khali Angel was with his band Pret & Bronk at the first Sal Kriol Jazz Festival on Sal Island.

The musician, singer and composer was born and raised on music in Mindelo. “I started playing when I was a boy. My mother gave me a little Chinese ‘keyboard’ for Christmas. At that time, there were always a few songs on the radio dedicated to the end of the year. That’s when I learned these songs in a few days. I started playing and celebrating, which is a tradition in San Vicente,” recalls Hali, who joined Cesaria Evora’s band in 2010.

“It’s curious that I joined Cesaria’s band in Kriol Jazz. I went to perform with Hernani Almeida and José da Silva saw me at that time. He was making changes in the band and asked me if I would like to become a music director. I was only 17 years old. “Casting for me was conducted by Nando Andrade. It was very curious because years later I replaced him in Cesaria’s group.”

Khaly is a very versatile songwriter. He recorded many songs and in different styles. From “Da pa dod”, inspired by the Mindelo carnival, to “Ka bu laran” with only voice and piano, or “Fayah” with more danceable rhythms. He was always looking for new sounds to play on his “little keyboard” and the more electronic arrangements he found ended up giving him a recognizable personality. “The advantage of being in Cape Verde is that we are geographically well located. We are suffering from various influences from all over the world. Latin, Brazilian, European, African and even Asian music – we have taste. It is very easy for us to mix, this versatility is very natural. I love these challenges and I’m always doing mixes and seasonings and stuff like that,” says Khali Angel, who now has Pret & Bronk, a band that debuted on the Sal Kriol Jazz Festival stage.

“Pret & Bronk was the idea of ​​Nuno, Bruno and another bassist that we had. It started as a quartet, with some variations, until we got to where we are now. The concept was covers and improvisations. Until there was a need for original songs. The first compositions that I wrote for the group were always very strange journeys, at the origins, explored and tempered it in our own way, and here is the result. We still have something to show,” Khaly reports of Pret & Bronk and the concert on Sal Island, where the band, with guest guitarist Vamar Martins, showcased very well performed Creole Jazz.