By IAN SPELLING, SPECIAL TO THE RECORD
Bebel Gilberto has been surrounded by music her entire life. She's the daughter of Brazilian singer-guitarist Joao Gilberto, regarded as the founder of bossa nova music, and Miucha, a beloved bossa nova singer.
She's performed since childhood, but it's only in the past decade -- on the strength of four albums, a Grammy nomination and solo touring -- that Gilberto has emerged as a major star in her own right.
And, no surprise, she's loving every minute of it.
"It's wonderful," Gilberto says by telephone from her Manhattan apartment. "I went to Israel recently for the first time, and it was amazing. I always end up going to places I've never been or coming back to places I adore playing, like France or Spain and Singapore and Brazil. You want to do as much as you can, for as many people as you can, and it's exciting to be able to do that."
Gilberto is on the road now, touring behind her latest album, "All in One," which was released in late September and is mix of bossa nova, jazz and electronica. She'll make a local stop Saturday night, playing at the Wellmont Theatre in Montclair.
"This album had so many good producers [including John King of the Dust Brothers and Mark Ronson] and many new songs [among them the Carmen Miranda number "Chica, Chica Boom Chic" and the Motown- ish, Stevie Wonder-penned "The Real Thing"], so I'm excited to do mainly those songs at the show," she says. "But also I will sing some songs from my previous albums. I have an incredible band, so I am really well-accompanied. I also have my husband taking care of the sound, so it's perfect."
She pauses for a moment.
"I should also say that I am happy to be in Montclair," Gilberto says. "It will be my first show ever in New Jersey."
That sounds odd, but it's true. Gilberto was born in New York City but raised mostly in Mexico City, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. After the evening in Montclair, Gilberto will head out west to close out the tour and the year.
As for what she'll do next, it's too soon to say. Certainly it'll be a while before she heads back into the recording studio. So, perhaps more touring. Maybe a nice break.
But, thinking long-term, Gilberto is toying with a big idea, one that's sure to please her fans.
"The thing I want to do most is a DVD, actually," she says.
A career retrospective? A making-of? A concert film?
"After the 10 years that have passed since my first [major- label] record, I think it's time to get something filmed, so that people can know me more, how I am personally, what my methods are, who the musicians are that I work with and all of that," she replies. "It'd be everything, how I prepare and record an album, how I do a tour."
Hmm, any big surprises that might shock people?
"If they exist," Gilberto replies, laughing, "I'll have to hide them."
(c) 2009 Record, The; Bergen County, N.J.. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.
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