Cape Verdean singer Mayra Andrade, who opened Saturday night’s show, appeared as a new young star a couple of years back. She is not only an olive-skinned beauty but has a caressing, husky voice and a real songwriting talent.

The stand-out songs of her new “baby”, as she described her second album, are Odjus Fitchadu, a sad love song delicately accompanied by Brazilian cavaquinho, and the title track Storia, Storia. In the latter she dramatically thrust out her arm and knocked her mic to the floor in pieces. Gesturing to us to keep it a secret, she picked up the bits and re-assembled it before the end of the instrumental break. She carried on without interruption, after which an infectious smile and laughter won huge applause. 

I first saw Cuban pianist Roberto Fonseca in the Festival Hall about eight years ago with musicians of the Buena Vista Social Club. He was clearly a major talent and has since developed a successful solo career. His piano playing is muscular and quicksilver, percussively rhythmic and floatingly melodic. Sung vocals bleed into conga rhythms, sax and bass solos and piano improvisations with his jazzy four-piece band.

But Fonseca insists on wearing a wide-brimmed hat which under stage lights often puts his face in shadow. It cuts off communication with the audience and made much of the set seem indulgent and self-absorbed. Thankfully, Mayra Andrade returned and Gilles Peterson brought on rappers and vocalist Danay from his Havana Cultura project to add some more earthy Cuban vibes for the finale.