Bebel Gilberto

The daughter of Brazilian bossa-nova icon João Gilberto, singer Bebel Gilberto does a dandy job of maintaining the family legacy without coasting on Dad's rep. Like her legendary father, she has a velvety, vibrato-free vocal approach. Her bittersweet, smoky tones reflect innocence and worldliness in equal measure. Unlike the elder Gilberto, though, Bebel doesn't shy away from incorporating elements of electronic pop into her music. Bebel's new disc, Momento, sticks mainly with straight-up bossa nova. The arrangements are restrained and sultry, although the singer pushes the stylistic envelope on a couple of selections. The salsa-charged "Tranquilo" features an elegantly strutting horn section, and "Bring Back the Love" features guests Brazilian Girls and a sleek, Euro-dance slant. But coming back full circle, her take on the Cole Porter standard "Night and Day" pays affectionate tribute to the renowned early-'60s collaborations between her father and American jazz saxophonist Stan Getz. In a world seemingly gone goofy, Momento is a lovely respite from madness.