Bebel Gilberto by Bebel Gilberto

Bebel's self-titled second album came out in 2004 and further consolidated her status. It showed a more mature, more confident Bebel, an artist in full bloom whose songwriting skills and inimitable, magical voice had ascended to new heights. The album was received with enthusiasm, and earned a string of awards and nominations, including a Mobo Award (UK), an Adlib Award (Japan, nominations for a Grammy and for a BBC Radio Award for World Music, etc. To record this album, Bebel enlisted the talents of producer Marius de Vries (Rufus Wainwright, Björk etc). Several distinguished guest musicians and co-producers also worked on the album, including Carlinhos Brown, Brazilian master percussionist Marcos Suzano, Guy Sigsworth and Pascal Gabriel, not to mention a dozen other musicians and a full string section, who participated to the various recording sessions which took place in Rio de Janeiro, Salvador de Bahia, New York, and London. Paradoxically, these songs (most of which were written or co-written by Bebel) sound even more intimate than "Tanto Tempo", and Bebel's unique voice has never sounded so warm and soulful. ℗ 2003 Crammed Discs