The Egg blessed by the voice of Cape Verde.(Life-Scene)

Byline: GREG HAYMES - Staff Writer

ALBANY - Every once in a long while, a singer comes along who becomes the voice of a nation. As Edith Piaf was to France and Jacques Brel was to Belgium, so, too, is Cesaria Evora to Cape Verde, the isolated chain of islands 360 miles off of the coast of Senegal in West Africa.

On Wednesday night, Evora charmed a small but devoted crowd of fans at The Egg with a 90-minute performance that needed no translation. Singing in her native language - a Creole-Portuguese-African blend - the 65-year-old vocalist transported the crowd to the islands, as the stage fog evoked the tropical steam and Evora's voice welled over with sorrow …