Grammy-nominated bossanova singer Bebel Gilberto debuted back in 1986 with a self-titled EP and has been performing since her youth in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Bebel’s father is bossa nova maestro João Gilberto and mother is bossa nova and samba singer Miúcha. Bebel was born in New York but early on had to accompany father João abroad for recordings. After her parents separated, Bebel lived alternately in Rio de Janeiro with her mother and in New York with her father.
At the age of seven, she made her recording debut on her mother’s first solo album, Miúcha & Antônio Carlos Jobim. Two years later, she performed at Carnegie Hall with mother Miúcha and Stan Getz, who was also a frequent guest at her father’s house.
Bebel Gilberto’s elegant, cool, modern bossa carries a range of different influences where she grafted tradition onto electronica. She broke through in 2000 with the record Tanto Tempo which got her bossa nova electronica played in clubs all over the world. Latest album Agora came out in 2020.
About her parents’ influence, she says:
“He taught me to be a perfectionist. But my mother taught me how to lose it. And you can hear it in my music today, I think.”
Bebel Gilberto – vocals,
Guilherme Monteiro – guitar,
Leo Costa – drums/percussion/keys
