Gilberto Combines Brazilian History With Dance Music
Brazilian music, with its flowing rhythms and rich percussion, is a natural partner for the enthusiastic beats of electronic sub-genres house and drum-and-bass.
Singer Bebel Gilberto, who has recorded with such dance acts as Amon Tobin and Thievery Corporation before she became a world-music star, wants to show fans how well the two go together.
On the heels of the recent “Tanto Tempo Remixes†album, Gilberto invited U.K. dance pioneer A Guy Called Gerald to be part of her band and to open her shows with a DJ set on her latest tour. But at the House of Blues on Saturday, Gilberto backed away from her experiment. Save for a couple of spectacular moments where Gerald’s grooves and the rest of her superb band fused into one extended drum-and-bass solo, Gerald was almost nonexistent in the set.
Those teasing suggestions of what could have been might have frustrated the few fans expecting to see a dance show, but those who came to see a typical Gilberto performance were not disappointed.
Spreading her enthusiasm with every smile and seductive shimmy, Gilberto playfully worked her way through a 90-minute set that drew on her songs and the history of Brazilian music, from Marcos Valle to the classic “Aguas de Marco.â€
Gilberto’s love for performing and dance music would make her a welcome addition to the dance music scene. The idea was definitely there. Next time, she just needs to commit to it in full.
Steve Baltin
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