WOMAD

Bebel Gilberto

From Brazil

2001 BiographyThe children of famous parents are often famously screwed up but in the case of Bebel Gilberto, nothing could be further from the truth. Bebel’s legendary father, the Brazilian composer and musician João Gilberto, and marginally less legendary mother, the singer Miucha, introduced their young daughter into the topsy-turvy world of showbiz at a young age. She was performing at New York’s Carnegie Hall alongside the likes of Stan Getz by the time she was nine. The ensuing years were caught up with the daily grind of child stardom as Bebel was immersed in children’s albums TV specials, soundtracks, jingles and musicals et al. At the age of 18 she decided to go it alone and two years later she released her album ‘Bebel Gilberto’ on WEA; which featured self-penned and award-winning compositions including ‘Eu preciso dizer que te amo’, a catchy tune which rocked the charts in the form of a cover by the singer Marina. Bebel returned to New York in the early nineties and became immersed in the cultural life of the metropolis, performing frequently at the Town Hall and SOB’s, harvesting rave reviews and contributing to the Aids benefit album ‘Red Hot In Rio’. It was with the release of her latest album ‘Tanto Tiempo’ on Belgium imprint Crammed Disc that Bebel left an indelible mark on global music. Beautifully crafted electronic samba grooves were harnessed to even more beautifully crafted songs to create a fizzing, sizzling and ground breaking new sound and turn Bebel Gilberto into one of the most backed new faces on the international scene. As Bebel seems to be just as serious and devoted to her music as her father was, the dynasty is obviously in rude health. Biography by Andy Morgan, June 20012001 Short Biography:Daughter of Brazilian superstar Joao Gilberto, Bebel's music is a beautiful and seductive reinvention of her father's bossa nova 'sixties sound. One of the most beautiful voices to have emerged from Brazil in recent years, Bebel is fast becoming a star in her own right.