SEATTLE — Brazilian singer Bebel Gilberto, the daughter of bossa nova pioneer João Gilberto, exuded energy from the moment she took the stage at the I Spy club
on Sunday.
Dressed in deep red, she prowled the small space like a cat. She danced, joked and flirted with the eager standing-room-only crowd, demonstrating — on this first date of an American tour in support of her new album Tanto Tempo (Six Degrees) — showmanship culled from two decades of professional experience.
But while Tanto Tempo employs subtle samples and loops, courtesy of techno-savvy producers such as Amon Tobin, Thievery Corporation and the late Suba, Gilberto relied solely on her four-piece band for her live show.
In person, Gilberto's voice was strong and subtle, gliding easily and mellifluously through the twisting phrases of "Sem Contenção" (RealAudio excerpt). But it wasn't until she slipped into her interpretation of Antonio Carlos Jobim and Newton Mendonça's bossa nova classic, "Desafinado" (Tuneless), that the set really took off.
A samba version of Stevie Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely?" was greeted with wild applause, and everyone in attendance, from twentysomething clubbers to paunchy grayheads, appeared won over by her charm and ability.
The album's electronic touches weren't missed onstage. Gilberto's charisma and the strength of her material kept the audience hooked throughout her hour-long show, even if she sometimes appeared a little glib.
She left the stage while her band — featuring guitar, keyboard, percussion and flute/tenor sax — played an instrumental that veered perilously close to cocktail jazz. But Gilberto saved the day by scatting the song's final chorus upon her return.
The airy "So Nice (Summer Samba)" was marked by a laid-back groove, helped along by some inventive drumming. It kept the audience moving, and the sway of bodies didn't stop until Gilberto finished her set with the powerful "Close Your Eyes" (RealAudio excerpt).
Her show-closing second encore was a romping version of the João Donato and Gilberto Gil standard "Bananeira."
"She's wonderful," said Roberta Pedee, 30, of Seattle. "I love Brazilian music, especially Jobim and João Gilberto, so I had to see his daughter. I'm really glad I came."
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