Philadelphia: Bebel Gilberto

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Bebel Gilberto
August 12, 2004

By: Arbell Camron - acamron@aroundphilly.com

Class, here's today's vocabulary lesson, say it aloud with me: nepotism. That's right, nep-o-ti-sm. Can anyone tell me what that means? Yes, you over there with those french braids. That's right! Nepotism is the practice of showing favoritism to members of one's family, especially in business matters. But is that necessarily such a bad thing? Well, you're right. If you hold a certain political office it most likely is. Ahem.

And usually I'd gather to say in our land of opportunity, nepotism works against us. We should earn our place in life through merit rather than social standing or public influence. I'm an idealist, yet a rebel at heart, so every rule made was made to be broken.

Case in point: the lovely Brazilian musician Bebel Gilberto. She was born of privilege to prominent South American stalwarts Astrud and Joao Gilberto, both accomplished jazz personalities by the time Bebel was born. At age seven, she made her recording debut on her mother's album, and at nine, she performed at Carnegie Hall with Stan Getz.

But unlike other famous nepotists that came before her, Bebel carved out her own niche in time, first gigging in small New York clubs, and eventually hooking up with avant-garde artists like David Byrne and Laurie Anderson. It was a chance meeting with former Deee-lite member Towa Tei that forged her future as the leading modern bossa nova artist, combining the traditional music she knew so well with fitting dance beats, introducing the Latin American flair to another generation of music lovers with the hit club single "Technova".

The millennium brought much success for Bebel, as she released her solo debut, 2000's "Tanto Tempo", and subsequently, as a result of that success, "Tanto Tempo Remixed". Again combining Latin rhythms and dance beats for an updated feel, Bebel cemented her family legacy as the leaders of bossa nova and Latin jazz, both old and new.

Catch Bebel Gilberto at The Theatre of the Living Arts this Saturday, August 14, for a rare performance in the area in support of her new album "Bebel Gilberto," backed up by our very own DJ Botany 500.

Bebel Gilberto, Aug. 14, 8pm, $27, TLA, 334 South St., 215.922.1011, www.thetla.com