Admittedly, bossa nova isn't the clear favorite music genre for most of our peers. But that's only because they have not heard bossa nova with a Brazilian samba flavor added to it.
And that, my dear readers, is exactly what you get from Bebel Gilberto, whose honey notes drew in a full house in the Esplanade Concert Hall for her one-night only concert in Singapore as part of her Momento Tour, on the 2nd of October.
This is only her second concert in Singapore and she already has a well-established solid fan base.
Bebel, who's based in New York, initiated the magical evening with slow-tempo chill-out music, alongside her four-piece band.
Performing a range of tracks from her third album, Momento, and her debut album, Tanto Tempo, she has a very versatile style and effortlessly transitioned from a soft, ballad to an upbeat number. Even more amazing was the discernible shifts in the mood of the audience, in tandem with the shifts in the music style.
However, Bebel wasn't about to let her voice get all the attention.
She was a divine vision, dressed in an all-black ensemble comprising a shimmering cashmere top, slacks and boots. Her glamour, incredibly graceful movements and seductive voice left the audience enraptured with her.
As a performer, Bebel is well versed in engaging her audience. She periodically asked how we were and praised Singapore. She was also effortlessly polite, profusely thanking the audience after each song with a nearly dramatic full bow, sinking so low down that she could practically touch her toes.
When singing a slow number, she would slink on a chair or on the floor, and sometimes sipping wine in between songs - appearing simultaneously endearing and seductive. There were also moments when her schoolgirl charm was on display as well as she coyly asked the audience what we thought of her outfit.
Occasionally breaking into fluent Portuguese, she'd converse specifically with the Brazilians in the audience. While you'd expect that to isolate the rest of the audience, it actually enhanced the atmosphere of intimacy, even if we had no idea what she was saying.
 Her chemistry and synergy with her band must also be commended. Guitarist Masa Shimizu, percussionist Davi Vieira, drummer Mauro Refosco, as well as saxophonist and flutist Jorge Continentino (whom she introduced as "the young kitten, who's married" to deflect all the female adoration he was getting) were all experimental and easy-going.
Often, Bebel would turn her back to the audience and gesture to her band, laugh with them and playfully bang the drums from time to time. It created such a sense of affinity that it felt like they were having a private jamming session of their own and we had been given an exclusive peek into it.
The entire evening was completely mesmerizing. I have to admit, I was dutifully taking notes of each song, but by the time we reached the third, I succumbed to the whimsical atmosphere and gave up on my note taking.
Bebel Gilberto's concert had everyone bobbing in their seats, tapping their feet and softly snapping fingers. There was just no way anyone could avoid the contagious enthusiasm.
Gilberto, a definite testament to her heritage, is truly a class act. As she took her final, trademark toe-touching bow, all we could ask for was that she will come back for a third time.
Hopefully, just like her spontaneous three-song encore, she'll oblige us. HOOKED
Images courtesy of Google Images
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