Mar Azul finds Cesaria Evora exploring deeper emotional territories while maintaining her signature understated elegance. This album showcases her remarkable ability to transform traditional Cape Verdean songs into universal expressions of longing, love, and loss.

The album's title, meaning "Blue Sea," reflects the oceanic themes that run through Cape Verdean music - the sea as both separator and connector, dividing the island nation from the wider world while carrying its musical traditions across continents. Evora's voice on Mar Azul demonstrates her full artistic maturity, with subtle phrasing and emotional control that makes each song feel both timeless and immediate. The backing musicians provide sympathetic support that highlights rather than competes with her vocals. For collectors of authentic world music, Mar Azul represents Cesaria Evora at her most emotionally direct. The album's combination of traditional repertoire and Evora's interpretive genius makes it essential for understanding Cape Verdean musical culture.