Her father may be the legendary Brazilian guitarist Joao Gilberto, but in 2000 daughter Bebel proved that she understands the bossa nova, too. There's a subtlety throughout this recording that makes Bebel's voice entrancing, as she re-creates the sensual essence of bossa nova before running with it into electronic territory toward the album's end. Tanto Tempo is an even-tempered statement that manages to showcase Bebel's own sexy voice while gracefully remembering the past. --Karen K. HuggDaughter of the famed Brazilian pop and bossa nova singer João Gilberto, Bebel recalls her father's own classic recordings on Tanto Tempo, with a sure sense of pitch. Bebel Gilberto is hardly less charming for that, though, and the album entices with hushed passion. Relying mostly on acoustic instruments and some muted orchestrations, Tanto Tempo is nonetheless smartly paced to allow for some tasteful dance-club electronics to augment a few tracks, and ends on a celebratory note with "Close Your Eyes"--all but an invitation to Carnival. The current trend for things Brazilian should assure this disc a deservedly wide audience. Licensing it for the U.S. is another minor triumph for the fine San Francisco-based label Six Degrees. --Rickey Wright
