Brazilian singer Bebel Gilberto has been blessed and burdened with a major artistic lineage. Her mother, Miucha, is a prominent vocalist, and her father, Joao Gilberto, has been the voice of bossa nova for more than 40 years. So it must have been rewarding for Bebel Gilberto to become an international star in her own right with the “Tanto Tempo” disc in 2000.
But as fate would have it, “Tanto Tempo” also seemed to weigh on Gilberto. The blend of electronica and bossa nova was initially enticing, but after a year, her performances veered close to mere repetition of a successful formula. Meanwhile, such emerging Brazilian vocalists as Cibelle, who was at Hot House a few weeks ago, presented another sort of challenge.
So Gilberto wisely followed a different path with a self-titled disc released in the United States a few months ago. She put herself and a few acoustic instruments in the forefront and relegated the programming to atmospheric duty. The result is an indicator of her considerable talents as a singer and songwriter of what can be loosely categorized as Brazilian pop.
At the sold-out Park West on Monday, Gilberto abandoned the high-fashion dresses she wore a few years ago and casually walked onstage in blue jeans. Her musical style was just as relaxed.
On the show’s opener, her own tune “Simplesmente,” Gilberto employed her soft voice to emphasize the song’s alluring contours. Taking bossa nova’s rhythms to heart, she strolled way behind the beat on “All Around.” She also reveled in a bright spirit that recalled the optimism of bossa nova’s halcyon early days. This breeziness did not wear out its welcome.
Gilberto’s voice lacks a large range, but her quiet shifts in delivery were effective. She easily drifted from a slow duet with guitarist Pedro Gomes to the faster-paced electronica dances from “Tanto Tempo.”
Although Gilberto’s cheerfulness was enjoyable, her cover of Caetano Veloso’s “Baby” pointed to some limitations in her approach.
Like the great Brazilian psychedelic band, Os Mutantes, Gilberto sang the song in English. But unlike Os Mutantes, and Veloso, this singer never seemed to venture into subversive territory.
The time is also right to retire the overly familiar “So Nice (Summer Samba),” especially as it elicits such easy cheers. Since Gilberto has been so successful in this country at playing up to the archetype of a hip South American singer, it would be interesting to see and hear her try to tear it down.
For the most part, percussionist Davi Viera and drummer Magrus Borges restrained themselves in service to the group dynamic. During a few times in the spotlight, they proved how their duo would hold its own at a Rio de Janeiro samba school. Paulo Levi’s flute solos were redolent of the 1970s heyday of Brazilian funk.
Monday’s concert got off to a late start, which Gilberto blamed on visa problems the group encountered while entering the United States.
DJ Warp deserves credit for spinning some choice Brazilian classics to keep the audience cool during the delay.
