Bebel Gilberto - All in One (12 tracks) +Album Reviews

A Sound perspective!

Reggie King | 10/23/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I suspected that when Bebel joined the Verve label it would be a notable change for her. After listening to "All in One" this was confirmed. Bebel is my favorite female artist and although this release moves in a new direction it is very good, and easily worthy of five stars. Bebel's three previous releases differ each in their own way, yet retain a Brazilian/world music feel and sound I prefer. That sound is not just a matter of how often she sings in portuguese. It is also the way the music and her voice are recorded. "All in One" targets the American ear. The Verve label may be the big factor here. I dont know. The overall production is of high quality and full sounding, but the tonal emphasis moves away from her previous works. Not a bad thing, just different. I really like "Sun is shinning" and "The real thing" the more I hear them. Bebel does a great job expanding herself. "Port Antonio" and "Forever" are simply beautiful. "All in one" and "Chica chica boom chic" are instant hits. The rest of the songs are solid. My one complaint is the songs are generally too short. A few of the songs could have been extended with no danger of fatigue. Thanks Bebel for all the clean, beautiful music."

Bebel's Bento Box

Amaranth | Northern California | 11/02/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

""All in One" is Bebel Gilberto's latest--she's maintained a constant sound-she doesn't venture into anything odd (example,the Michael Bolton/Lady GaGa duet) She collaborates with Mark Ronson,sings Stevie Wonder and Bob Marley. It's jazzy,sensual,and dreamlike. She sings "Bim Bom" by her father Joao Gilberto,and her songs were recorded in as diverse places as Brazil,Jamaica,Los Angeles,and New York City. She brings many musical flavors together so there's something for everyone--like a bento box.

"All in one" opens with a gentle love song. She brings in reggae with her cover of Bob Marley's "Sun is shining." Her "Far from the Sea","Segrredo (Secret)" and "Port Antonio" are more meditative. She sings in Portuguese and English. It's easy listening--but there's a sensuality to it. It isn't an insomnia cure. She does a marvelous version of "Chica Chica Boom Chic" (model turned singer Ivette Sangalo also does a great one MTV Ao Vivo )

It's a consistently strong work. Bebel has managed to still make great music. Forget Diana Krall's boring Brazilian Quiet Nights Bebel Gilberto,like Rio de Janeiro,is the winner here! "All in one" has everything."

Bravo! Bebel's back!

Doc Dave | New York City | 10/09/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First a bit of background history: Bebel's first album was produced by Suba, a Serbian electro impressario who sadly and tragically perished in a Sao Paulo studio fire. Suba understood bossa nova in a truly genius way, the way that Joao Gilberto (Bebel's pappy) or Tom Jobim did, a casual understated muted expression of the Brazilian rhythmic Samba.

With his demise, the subsequent albums of Bebel's never quite approached the harmony between the old and the new, the electro and the acoustic (bossa nova). This album comes the closest thus far to recapture some if not most of the magic and excitement. Nice electro samples unifying tracks with alternating bossa and old school/funk melodies. The mixing is superb.

Do we still mourn the premature loss of Suba? Of course. But he would approve of this album. Obrigado, Bebel!"

Another Nice Album

bordersj2 | Boston | 10/15/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"One of the things I've liked about Bebel Gilberto's works are that she's managed to evolve her sound through the years. From working long ago with Cazuza and others, to Towa Tei and Thievery Corporation and then Ziriguiboom/Crammed. She's been an influential and important part of the nova bossa nova movement. Now, she's released a new al bum on the Verve label. I agree that this is fitting considering her heritage and upbringing, which included being around the musical talents of the original bossa nova artists; her father, Joao Gilberto, Luiz Bonfa, Stan Getz, Miucha - her mother, Laurindo Almeida and loads of others who were big contributors to the label. But still I wanted to wait a little to review this one because ever since Tanto Tempo back in 2000, I was a bit underwhelmed at first by her subsequent albums, only to listen to them again and conclude that they were really fair releases.

Here, she sort of picks up where she left off with Momento but has a more organic sounds. Though it's with Verve, it's not your typical 'jazz' album and she had a few terrific guests work on the production and arrangements of the songs. Not least of which being Carlinhos Brown! Some of my favorite songs on this album were ones that he had a hand in including "Cancao De Amor" which flows a bit like a lullaby and especially "All in One", which she pulled off singing in English. Terrific tempo and patterns. "Bim Bom" was nicely done too with Daniel Jobim (Tom Jobim's grandson). I enjoyed "Nossa Senhora", which had a nice dropping beat in the background but I especially liked her version of "Chica Chica Boom chic" more. A soft, not too assuming beat that felt every bit like Brasil - and that promises to be fantastically remixed in the future. What strikes me about this album and her others is that they're all pretty consistent - but with this one there is just something that does make it a "Verve" album, with an ambiance that somehow actually reminds me of some of Astrud Gilberto's works.

I'd recommend this, and I'd recommend giving it more than one listen to really judge it. Her sound is never really overwhelming, but she's managed to always put out nice albums. If I had any criticism, it would be that for the talent of the producers, on occasion I think the timing was off on a few samples - but that's a bit too pedantic. I also wish that on some songs which were sang in English, she also did in Portuguese as extras on the album because to me, they may sound better; more natural. Hopefully in the future, we may see her work with Christian Franck again and Apollo 9, or with the Far Out Records. Would also be nice, since she enjoys singing in English on some songs, to hear her give "California Soul" a try because her voice could work. Until then, this is a nice, enjoyable album with a bit of a verve feel!

And of course - be on the lookout for her upcoming tour."

Lackluster

V. Jeffrey | Portland, OR USA | 04/12/2010

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I am a big fan of Bebel's music but this is not an impressive album. There are couple of songs here that I like but overall I found it dull and uninspired. Most of the songs simply don't catch my interest. They remind me of something John Tesh or Kenny G. would create but with a slight Latin twist. I expect much more from this artist and this album simply does not deliver the goods. I don't have an issue with an artist branching out and trying new things but this sounds far more like dull, saccharine, cookie-cutter adult contemporary music not beautiful, exciting and sensuous Brazilian music that I have come to expect from good Brazilian artists like Bebel."

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