The Changing Sounds of Madredeus

Madredeus, the soulful Portuguese group that broke through to the American pop music market last year, is experiencing some significant changes. The current ensemble, which appears at Veterans Wadsworth Theater on Oct. 18, now consists of two guitars, keyboards, bass and singer Teresa Salgueiro. The change from the distinctive cello-accordion sound so characteristic of Madredeus’ previous work may come as a surprise to the group’s fans.

But Madredeus co-founder and guitarist Pedro Magalhaes feels the new instrumentation more effectively reflects the group’s desire to create “spiritual music dealing with the human individual and common soul, its hopes and moods, its desires and fantasies.”

Aware that Madredeus’ fans were quite happy with the instrumentation and the music of the early group, Magalhaes quickly adds, “The spirit of the project has been kept the same. . . . A recital of songs determined by poetry and melody and conducted by Teresa, breathing the songs and singing the words.”

In the sound of the current ensemble, says Magalhaes, “The voice lines become more natural . . . and expressive, more free from the instrumental lines--as if the singer is now flying over the music.”

Madredeus followers who do not favor the new aural makeup can turn to their numerous recordings, including “Os Dias da Madredeus,” “Existir” and “Lisboa”--CD’s previously unavailable in the U.S. that have just been released on the Metro Blue label.

* Madredeus, Oct. 18 at Veterans Wadsworth Theater, Veterans Administration grounds, Brentwood, 8 p.m. $30-$11. (310) 825-2101.

Blues on the Ganges: World music maverick Jai Uttal is planning to transform the House of Blues into an “astral Indian temple” for his Wednesday show with the Pagan Love Orchestra. The performance will display images of Indian spiritual culture on five large video screens, body painters will roam the dance floor, incense and the aroma of savory curries will fill the air and DJ Cheb i Sabbah will play the latest Asian dance hits.

The performance/happening, which Uttal calls “Night on the Ganges,” is far removed from Uttal’s classical Indian music training. But it’s an appropriate showcase for the presentation of his new world fusion album, “Shiva Station” (Triloka/Mercury Records).

* Jai Uttal’s “Night on the Ganges,” Wednesday at the House of Blues, 8430 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 9 p.m. $15. (213) 650-1451.

World Meets New Age: Ottmar Liebert has category problems. Here’s a guy who would seem to satisfy all the qualifications of world music. Raised in Germany by a Hungarian mother and a Chinese-German father, he speaks fluent English and is a talented acoustic guitarist. But after unsuccessfully trying to make it with jazz-funk, he stumbled onto the easygoing, smoothly articulated “nouveau flamenco” stylings that have made him a major name in New Age music.

So where is Liebert’s current album being listed? On the world music charts? The New Age charts? The smooth jazz charts?

Try Classical Crossover. Liebert’s “Leaning Into the Night,” a collection of his flamenco-tinged renderings of classical pieces with familiar themes, has been at the top of Billboard’s Classical Crossover charts for three weeks in a row.

“I started out with the idea of making a very romantic album,” says Liebert, “with sweet melodies that draw you in, transfix you, transform you.”

The results are not exactly classical music, world music or New Age, but they clearly seem to have found an audience. Look for more offbeat blendings with world music in the near future.

Around Town: The New Oriental Chinese Music Ensemble presents a free program of Chinese music at the Pasadena Arts Space, Saturday at 11 a.m. (213) 887-0328. . . . Guitarist Adam del Monte presents an evening of flamenco and Spanish classical guitar pieces at the Koan Collection on Oct. 22, 8:30 p.m. (213) 464-3735. . . . Albita’s steamy Cuban music ignites the House of Blues Oct. 29 and 30.

Christiane Callil’s “Girls From Ipanema” tropical show celebrates its third anniversary Oct. 24 with a performance at the Brandview Collection in Glendale, (818) 242-9500. . . . Callil also sings her Brazilian songs at Crustacean in Beverly Hills Tuesday nights, and at Lunaria Jazz Restaurant Oct. 17 and 31. . . . LunaPark’s world music lineup for the month includes Lula & Afro-Brazil on Saturday and Prince Eyango’s sounds of Cameroon on Oct. 17. (310) 652-0611. . . . The California Plaza’s noon concerts feature some intriguing world music: Today, sitarist Kartik Seshadr celebrates Indian independence day; on Oct. 17, Unconventional Koto blends the Japanese koto with bass and drums.