Concert Review: Gilberto Gil @ Joe's Pub NYC, 9/22

Gilberto Gil is a music legend--beloved ambassador of Brazilian music and jazz great. The man and his guitar graced Joe's Pub stage this Monday in front of a sold out, jam-packed audience. The concert was part of the venue's 10th Year Anniversary celebration.

The set began, softly at first--in complete contrast to the rumbling subway cars underneath--before the melodies and rhythms began to build in complexity. Gil has an uncanny way of segueing what starts as tuning and "finding the right pulse" into a song without the listener knowing where one ends and the other begins. It's this beguiling simplicity that runs throughout his music. Folk-style tunes, with conversational melodies, punctuated by jungle-like noises and scatting, carried strong political undercurrents. It's a very palatable way to serve what sometimes could be a divisive message. (Mr. Gil at one point was forced to leave his native country of Brazil; he was perceived as a threat. He has since returned and now serves as Ministry of Culture under President da Silva.)

However, it's really Gil's musical style and skill that carries his performance. His buttery voice often played counterpoint to the rhythm--2 against 3--and so effortlessly. At other times, his voice was off on its own, discovering new musical territory, while the melody he played on the guitar provided the song with structure. It was a truly a testament that right brain and left brain can work in harmony!

Perceived as a whole, the music is impressionistic, the full import of the song only fully realized, and appreciated, at its completion. The musical palette was even more enhanced when Gil's son joined him on the guitar and hand drum, lending more colors and nuances to the evening.

Gil gave a rousing 2-song ovation, including Bob Marley's "No Woman, No Cry." After leaving the stage, the audience clapped and chanted for at least 8 more minutes hoping for a second encore. Alas, another show had to be set up and the magical evening with the master musician was over. One of his 50 albums will have to suffice until next time.

Photo courtesy of Flickr user: Lili Vieira de Carvalho's