From Tom:

"Her sultry vocals beguiled a sold-out house of new fans at the Temple Bar last night. Everybody was smitten. Everybody."

"They ask me ... 'Why did you choose fado? Don't you miss the other music, the other styles?' " the singer said, quoting fellow musicians puzzled by her career choice. "Actually, I don't miss it so much."

At age 27, Ana Moura has become one of fado's most powerful new voices--a top-selling artist who counts The Rolling Stones among her fans...

It was at the fado houses that Moura met her closest collaborator--composer, producer and musician Jorge Fernando. He worked for years as guitarist for the so-called "Rainha do Fado" ("Queen of Fado"), singer Amália Rodrigues.

"For me, it's a big honor to work with him," Moura said, describing the guitarist as a tireless perfectionist.

"When he writes me something... he tells me, 'Ana, I think you will like this,' and most of the time I really like it," she said with a soft laugh.

Fernando's influence can be heard on Moura's first two fado albums: "Guarda-me A Vida Na Mão" ("Keep My Life in Your Hand") and "Aconteceu" ("It Happened").

Her latest album, "Para Além da Saudade," also features the work of guitarist Custódio Castelo and Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Tim Ries. Spanish singer-actor Paxti Andión appears on one track...

Moura's blossoming career comes as fado is enjoying a new wave of popularity.

She attributes some of that success to the end of the authoritarian regime known as the Estado Novo ("New State"), which ruled Portugal for more than four decades.

"At that time, we were afraid of everything that was ours. We had this preconception about old Portuguese things because we lived in this closed (environment)," Moura explained.

Now, she says, the nation is eager to embrace its heritage.

In order to keep the genre fresh, Moura said, she seeks out songs with lyrics that speak to today's listeners -- paired with familiar melodies.

For instance, she recorded a fado version of the Rolling Stones' "No Expectations" for Tim Ries' tribute album to the band.

Although few of overseas audiences may understand Moura's Portuguese-language songs, she said the music transcends language barriers and cultural differences.