Sometimes I dream of seeing Christ the Redeemer standing 130 feet tall on the mountain top of Corcovado.  I lay on Ipanema beach far below as women tall and tan and young and lovely walk by. The hot sun blazes as I listen to the gentle strains of bossa nova music. 

Bossa nova is as iconic to Brazilian music as the statue of Christ the Redeemer is to Rio de Janiero.  The daughter of two legendary musicians, Joao Gilberto and Miucha is my favorite Brazilan artist. Listening to the music of Bebel Gilberto can transport me to the land of Rio, the Rio of my dreams, not the Rio of City of God.  

Tanto Tempo (too much time) was the worlds introduction to this generations voice of bossa nova, Bebel Gilberto in 2000.  You may have heard her music as it has been featured in several movie soundtracks like Next Stop, Wonderland (filmed in my city of Boston!), Closer or Eat, Pray, Love.  If you love the music of her father, Joao Gilberto or his first wife Astrud, you should first know that this is not her father's bossa nova.  I love the music of Brazilians like Joao Gilberto, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Astrud Gilberto or even American saxophonist Stan Getz's bossa nova beats, but Bebel breathes a fresh new life into the genre that makes bossa nova as listenable for this generation as Gilberto/Getz was for the world in the mid 60s. While traditional bossa nova tends to be rather slow and gentle, Bebel's bossa nova beats are up tempo and moving.

Bebel Gilberto does give homage to the music of her father though, in fact one of the songs on the album is So Nice (summer samba). If I've heard Astrud Gilberto sing this once, I've heard it dozens of times. Bebel's version still has the slow relaxing swaying beat, and a very 60s sounding organ.

Someone to hold me tight
That would be very nice
Someone to love me right
That would be very nice

However, it is songs like Bananeira that I first heard on a bossa nova sampler disc The Best of Brazil that first attracted me to Bebel.  It is a fast upbeat song that retains that bossa nova beat and is irresistably catchy

Bananeira no sei
Bananeira sera?
Bananeira sei no
A maneira de ver

Oh yea, it is in Portuguese, yet I know the words, as I have hit replay on it so many times.  Well after purchasing many of Bebel's albums I learned that the song translated is titled Banana Tree and the lyrics are

Banana tree I don't know
Banana tree maybe
Banana tree I don't know
The best way to see it

Like opera, perhaps it is best when you don't know what the translation is!  Even knowing the song is only about a banana tree, it is just very catchy, and I still find myself singing along even though I don't know Portuguese.

Many of the songs are in Portuguese like the melancholy Samba e amor.   Bebel's voice is soft and inviting and quite beautiful.  Other songs like August Day Song are sung in both Portuguese and English. In the English verse, I found that Bebel also dreams of distant lands Just like this rainstorm, This August day song, I dream of places far beyond.

Another of my favorites is the title cut Tanto Tempo, a modernized throw back to the gentle bossa nova sounds of her dad.

Most of the songs on Tanto Tempo feature piano, what sounds like a small string section, drums and acoustic and electric guitars.  Tanto Tempo is the album that made Bebel the most popular Brazilian singer in the world since the hey day of bossa nova in the 60s.

Since Elvis Costello married my favorite Canadian jazz piano player / singer,(Diana Krall)  I have fallen in love with this Brazilian beauty. (Actually Bebel was born in New York City and spends her time between Rio and NYC).  I bet if you enjoy jazz, you will fall in love too.  The funny thing is that even though I love this album and give it 5 stars, it isn't even my favorite! Bebel Gilberto's self titled 2004 album or her recent 2009 All in One are even better!  If you get bored with Tanto Tempo, it is also available as a remix album, giving yet another set of arrangments to the songs.

Summary

Bebel Gilberto is my favorite Brazilian singer.  Her voice is one that will easily carry you away, it is soft and gentle, yet has an energy to it that keeps your toes tapping.  She takes the classic bossa nova of the 60s and gives it a fresh perspective for the 21st century.  Youtube a video of Bebel Gilberto and take yourself away to the beaches of Rio.  Better yet, get Tanto Tempo, and take the time to listen.

Like that Bossa Nova Beat?

Also check out

Bebel Gilberto (2004)
Bebel Gilberto - Tanto Tempo
Bebel Gilberto - Tanto Tempo Remixes
Joao Gilberto Live in Montreux
Antonio Carlos Jobim - Terra Brasilis
Pure Brazil - The Girls of Ipanema
Gilberto / Getz
Diana Krall - Quiet Nights
Ceu
Sabrina Malheiros - New Morning
Seu Jorge - The Life Aquatic Sessions

Now, if you don't mind, I am going back to my Brazilian dream.

You know you can feel the breeze with patience of a lifetime
Dance above the trees to the rhythm in your mind
Gently touching your skin inside out
Floating on the seas, it carries me around

You can close your eyes and never be alone

*Lyrics from Close Your Eyes (the final song on Tanto Tempo)


Recommended: Yes