Maybe it's just me, but lately there seems to have been a giant upswing in interest and listening to Brazilian music. And where would Brazilian music be without the name Gilberto? Looking back you find Astrud and João, and returning to the present you have Bebel, daughter of João, whose latest release, All In One, just came out last month. It's on the Verve label, home to some of the most classic Brazilian artists of all time, including the above named Gilbertos as well as Antonio Carlos Jobim and Stan Getz.Knowing the familial legacy that Bebel deals with, you might be worried about her relying on the surname and tradition in her own work, but this album clearly shows that isn't the case. While there is a clear musical connection to her home country, and even some interpretations of older songs, baggage of the past is set aside for an honest and current exploration of Brazilian music that highlights Babel in her own right and not just her inheritance. To do so, she enlists some current musicians, including Mark Ronson and the Dap Kings on the Stevie Wonder penned song The Real Thing. Most of the record is sung in Portuguese, with a few exceptions, including this one. That's not to say she completely severs ties to her forebearers. Take for instance Chica Chica Boom Chic, originally a Carmen Miranda, the first Brazilian artist to strike it rich outside her own country.
The resulting mix of songs, twelve in total, really feels like a contemporary album that still bears the imprint of tradition, while not leaning on it as a crutch.
the classic original:
João Gilberto - Besame Mucho : Amoroso
1 comment:
Bebel's concert was one of the best performances I have ever seen.
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