Bebel Gilberto

The world's favourite contemporary Brazilian singer-songwriter, Gilberto sold over a million copies of her now-classic 2000 debut, Tanto Tempo. This new album is arguably her most diverse yet. It includes a bilingual version of Bob Marley classic "Sun Is Shining," covers of Stevie Wonder, Joao Gilberto (the lovely and airy bossa of "Bim Bom") and Carlinhos Brown (her multi-instrumentalist/co-producer), as well as strong new originals. Six different co-producers are used, including wunderkind Mark Ronson (on the horn-fuelled Wonder cover "The Real Thing"), as well as several different casts of ace accompanists. Giving the proceedings consistency are Gilberto's characteristically breezy and charming vocals, and she displays a greater range here. The recording locales of Jamaica and Brazil may help account for the sunny vibe of a disc set to serve us well as a warming winter tonic.