Being both the niece of Brazilian singer-composer Chico Buarque and the Grammy-nominated daughter of bossa nova king João Gilberto and Brazilian singer-composer Miúcha means that having expectations of musical greatness thrust upon you is inescapable. Bebel Gilberto seems not only to know this all too well, but to revel in said knowledge. On "All In One," her latest solo recording, the New York-born chanteuse delivers a level of supple vocal artistry that validates those expectations while joyously seducing in the manner of a woman in love.
The album's most affecting aspect is how ably and smoothly Gilberto's vocals swing between smoke-heavy huskiness and shiny-as-polished-brass upper register notes, bringing to bear the best of the tonal extremes at which she excels. This project marks a slight deviation from more electronica-laced sounds that have played a bigger part in some of her previous efforts and lent her works to seemingly unending chillout remixes by artists from Nuspirit Helsinki to Thievery Corporation. "All In One" does revisit some familiar territory with regard to themes, however with its profusion of playful beats and musical arrangements rendered with the delicacy of falling raindrops, the album succeeds in making the trip a pleasant one that listeners will be glad for having taken.
The album's most affecting aspect is how ably and smoothly Gilberto's vocals swing between smoke-heavy huskiness and shiny-as-polished-brass upper register notes, bringing to bear the best of the tonal extremes at which she excels. This project marks a slight deviation from more electronica-laced sounds that have played a bigger part in some of her previous efforts and lent her works to seemingly unending chillout remixes by artists from Nuspirit Helsinki to Thievery Corporation. "All In One" does revisit some familiar territory with regard to themes, however with its profusion of playful beats and musical arrangements rendered with the delicacy of falling raindrops, the album succeeds in making the trip a pleasant one that listeners will be glad for having taken.
