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Home > Living Tempo/a
Brazilian legend Gilberto Gil turns Ravinia
concert into party
By Bob Gendron Special to the Tribune
June 21, 2008
Text size
"I can't get no connection!" exclaimed Gilberto Gil at the start of his energizing
concert Thursday night at Ravinia—the lyric both a play on his latest technology
initiatives and a clever riff on two Rolling Stones songs. But despite entertaining a
sparse crowd that filled only half the pavilion, the legendary Brazilian vocalist/guitarist
did indeed make every sort of possible connection while expressing a graciousness
lost on most contemporary pop stars.
Backed by the six-piece Broadband Band, Gil musically journeyed across the South
American continent and for kicks, also ventured into Africa, Britain and Jamaica. He
effortlessly linked related genres, turned death hymns into proud declarations and
compensated for translation issues by trading off between singing in English and
Portuguese. Infectious rhythms, whooped interjections and vibrant vibes dominated,
with hand percussion and choppy chords governing a majority of the material
At one point, Gil performed three consecutive sambas, each demonstrative of a
different style. On two baião tunes, hypnotic strains were a bridge to the reggae beats
that peppered much of the 100-minute set. A slow-boiled cover of Bob Marley's
"Three Little Birds" and a funky rendition of the Beatles' "Something" transcended
language barriers and familiar conventions. No combination of sounds or cultures
seemed out of reach.
Whether jumping about or leading call-and-response refrains, Gil exuded ageless joy.
As the frontman upped the pace of Marley's "Kaya," one brave patron defied security
by dancing in the aisles. Within seconds, the silent rebellion inspired a mass exodus
to the front of the stage. Gil and company rewarded the rush by creating a carnival-
like atmosphere punctuated by a climactic run of bossa nova and Tropicalia rock that
left few remaining in their seats.
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