Gilberto Combines Brazilian History With Dance Music

Brazilian music, with its flowing rhythms and rich percussion, is a natural partner for the enthusiastic beats of electronic sub-genres house and drum-and-bass.

Singer Bebel Gilberto, who has recorded with such dance acts as Amon Tobin and Thievery Corporation before she became a world-music star, wants to show fans how well the two go together.

On the heels of the recent “Tanto Tempo Remixes” album, Gilberto invited U.K. dance pioneer A Guy Called Gerald to be part of her band and to open her shows with a DJ set on her latest tour. But at the House of Blues on Saturday, Gilberto backed away from her experiment. Save for a couple of spectacular moments where Gerald’s grooves and the rest of her superb band fused into one extended drum-and-bass solo, Gerald was almost nonexistent in the set.

Those teasing suggestions of what could have been might have frustrated the few fans expecting to see a dance show, but those who came to see a typical Gilberto performance were not disappointed.

Spreading her enthusiasm with every smile and seductive shimmy, Gilberto playfully worked her way through a 90-minute set that drew on her songs and the history of Brazilian music, from Marcos Valle to the classic “Aguas de Marco.”

Gilberto’s love for performing and dance music would make her a welcome addition to the dance music scene. The idea was definitely there. Next time, she just needs to commit to it in full.

Steve Baltin