Bebel Gilberto Headlines First Show of SummerStage 2012 Season

Photo by: Nilton Silva

New York’s Summer Stage is kicking off its 2012 season with an evening of performances by Nu-bossa bombshell, Bebel Gilberto, Grammy-nominated jazz singer Gregory Porter and other acclaimed artists at Highline Ballroom in New York City on January 5th.

Daughter of Brazilian bossa nova icon, João Gilberto, and singer, Miúcha, Bebel Gilberto gracefully ushers the music of her parent’s generation into the 21st century. Her blend of traditional sounds from Bahia with contemporary pop and electronic beats has become a staple at clubs and lounges around the world, and her love-centric lyrics have won the hearts and minds of international audiences.

A performer since age nine, Bebel is at home on the stage. Her sweet and energetic style is delightful to experience, and even more fun, is watching this star perform with others. During her summer residency at City Winery, Bebel performed each of her shows with a different special guest, including Brazilian rapper, Marcelo D2. This past October at the famed Rock in Rio music festival, Bebel shared the stage (and a kiss) with singer/composer Sandra de Sá.

If a duet with Gregory porter is in store, I’m excited to see it!

Bebel Gilberto, Gregory Porter and More @ Highline Ballroom
Thursday 5th January
Doors: 6pm, Show: 7pm
Tickets: $20

Event and tickets: highlineballroom.com/bio.php?id=2230

This post was written for Sounds and Colours. See the original text here.

Ring in the New Year Rio Style at S.O.B's

Flights to Rio are mostly sold out this season, but don't worry. You can experience the best of Réveillon right here in New York City. Take it from someone who counts herself among the 2 million revelers who crowded onto Copacabana Beach last December 31st. 

At S.O.B.'s this New Year's Eve, ring in the New Year Rio style. And there won't be any sand in your caipirinhas!

Pick from three packages that include varying levels of dinner, drinks and dancing. Live performances by Brasil Live and La Excelencia will keep you on your feet all night long. Then again, you might have to take a break to study the steps of the professional samba dancers with whom you share the dance floor. They'll be more than happy to show you how to shake it. (Many of them are professional samba instructors, too).

This will be a festa to remember, depending, of course, on how much champagne you toast at midnight. 

Tickets available for purchase online.

Criolo Was Here

Criolo performing at Nublu, December 7, 2011

Within hours of stepping off an international flight last week, Brazilian rapper/singer, Criolo, dropped a new music video whose name was trending on Twitter in Brazil in no time. As I write this, he is performing in front of a packed house at one of São Paulo's most acclaimed venues. The show sold out in 30 minutes. And he's booked for three more shows before the year's end. Such is the day-to-day of Brazil's 2011 New Artist of the Year... except when he's performing in New York. 

I found out about Criolo's New York debut five days before the show in a cryptic tweet by the artist. After some searching, I uncovered more details. On the Nublu Jazz Festival flyer, in tiny lettering, was "Criolo," crowded on a page with the names and showtimes of some 100 other artists. I felt like I had just unearthed a treasure. 

At Nublu's unassuming club on Avenue C, Criolo serenaded and agitated a mostly Brazilian crowd already familiar with his music and excited to see a national star perform in such an intimate setting. 

Criolo's music is similar to that of other acclaimed Brazilian rappers in that it mixes many styles of music: axê, reggae, funk, samba, hip hop and more. What sets Criolo apart from contemporaries, like Emicida and Marcelo D2, is his singing voice. Where other rappers need to collaborate with trained singers, Criolo has it covered. He is free to experiment with his own voice instead of depending on the repertoire of another vocal artist. 

Criolo brings an intensity to performing I've never seen before. On stage, he seems to channel all the sadness and suffering many of his lyrics describe. During "Não Existe Amor em SP" (There is no love in São Paulo), he stood still, his head cocked to one side, his eyes focused in the distance. I wanted to know what he was seeing. Criolo was standing on the stage before me, but his spirit was elsewhere, only loosely attached to the man with the microphone. 
Não Existe Amor em SP by criolo_oficial

Other times, Criolo's movements were agitated, his face contorting with thoughts of the often unpleasant reality of life in São Paulo, the muscles in his neck bulging as he belted out the notes. Criolo is a vessel for stories of neglect and injustice he knows intimately from a career as a counselor to kids living in the street. 

Still, he maintains a positive outlook. After the show, I had the chance to chat briefly with him about his New York debut. We had to move away from the stage, so I could better hear his quiet speaking voice. 

He told me that at age 35, this was his first trip outside Brazil, his first invitation to perform in the United States, and that it was all very exciting for him. He'd never foreseen this happening in this life time. It had been a far off dream, if that. He's celebrated so many milestones in the last year- winning three titles at the Video Music Brasil awards, performing in cities across Brazil, and traveling abraod. None of it had sunk in yet.

I almost asked if he needed me to pinch him to convince him it was all really happening. But it is. I overheard talk of invitations to play in London and performances at the Olympics (2012 or 2016, I'm not sure).

I asked Criolo about his album, Nó na Orelha, which he is distributing freely. "So many people helped me to get to this point for free. I couldn't have done it without them. I wanted to give back and share result with as many people as possible," he explained.

Fame can get to one's head, but as long as Criolo continues to make life's harsh realities and his personal hope for a better future the focus of his music, I'm confident he'll remain the grateful, down-to-earth guy I once had the pleasure of meeting. 

In a cover story of the Brazilian magazine, Trip, Criolo is quoted as saying “Legal esse momento que estou vivendo. Mas legal mesmo seria não precisar cantar o que canto. Sentir essa dor no peito." Translation: This moment I'm living is great, but just as great would be to not have to sing what I sing. Feeling this pain in my heart. I think that says it all. 

Brazil's Criolo at Nublu JazzFest, December 7

Leave it to the humble, music visionaries at Nublu to bring together a Brazilian rapper, international DJs, ethnic folk bands, new age rockers and representatives of countless other music genres for a week-long celebration of sound. 

The name Nublu Jazzfest is deceivingly homogeneous. A more accurate name might be Crazy-Awesome-Like-You've-Never-Imagined-Up-Close-Music-Week.

The third annual Nublu Jazzfest begins December 7th and is hosting shows at three locations in the East Village through December 18th. There is something for everyone in this mind-blowing line-up, so don't miss out. 

I am personally pumped to see Criolo, the soul spitting, jungle-beat mixing, sensual, Brazilian singer/rapper kick off the festival this Wednesday at 9pm at Nublu, 62 Avenue C.

Criolo was nominated in five categories of this year's MTV Video Music Brasil awards. He won in three of those categories: Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and New Artist of the Year. 

If you aren't convinced, you should go see Criolo's live at Nublu, download his award-winning album, Nó na Orelha, and give a listen. It's FREE!