Gil on the World Stage
During his time in exile in Europe, Gilberto Gil started to engage with the international music scene and perform outside Brazil.
Gilberto Gil em Londres durante o exílio (1971)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Indebted to London
Since the 1970s, when he was living in exile in London, Gil has regularly appeared on stages around the world.
Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso e Gal Costa (1967)Instituto Gilberto Gil
In 1970, Gil went to a festival on the Isle of Wight with Caetano Veloso, Gal Costa, and musicians from A Bolha, a band from Rio de Janeiro. Gil was particularly keen to see Jimi Hendrix perform, but they all ended up on stage, too, performing some Brazilian psychedelia.
Gilberto Gil Caetano Veloso na década de 1960 (1967)Instituto Gilberto Gil
At that time, both Gil and Caetano were doing jam sessions with British musicians like Nik Turner from the psychedelic band Hawkwind.
Gilberto Gil durante o exílio em Londres (1971)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Steve Symons, the event production manager at Glastonbury—a British festival that started in 1970—recalls that the two Bahian musicians played at the festival in 1971 and even took part in a working group to come up with new ideas for the event.
According to Symons, it was Gil who suggested that Glastonbury should take inspiration from the Brazilian Carnival and bring in more light, color, and other art forms.
Gilberto Gil e Gal Costa na época do exílio do músico baiano em Londres (1971)Instituto Gilberto Gil
In 1971, Gil also did a show in London with his friend Gal Costa, but neither of them knew it was, in fact, being recorded. The tapes came to light in the 1990s and were made into an album years later.
Gilberto Gil e Gal Costa em Paris durante o exílio do músico na época da ditadura militar (1971)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Gilberto Gil durante o exílio em Paris (1971)Instituto Gilberto Gil
While in exile, Gil also supplemented his income by doing concerts in Germany and France.
African Inspiration
His concerts outside Brazil started to become a source of inspiration for new projects. In early 1977, Gilberto Gil spent a month in Nigeria and appeared with Caetano Veloso at the 2nd World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture, held in Lagos.
Gilberto Gil durante a turnê Refavela (1977)Instituto Gilberto Gil
The Nigerian countryside, with its houses made from cheap materials, and its precarious water and electricity supply, reminded Gil of the favelas in Rio de Janeiro. It became the inspiration for his album Refavela, which would be released that same year.
In Montreux
Gil's performance at the 1978 Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland would go on to be made into an album. Gil was the first Brazilian to perform at the festival, along with the band A Cor do Som e Silvinho. Gil played with the Bahian guitarist Pepeu Gomes and, following this performance, Gil started releasing records through Warner Music.
Gilberto Gil em viagem para a EuropaInstituto Gilberto Gil
An International Album
In 1978, the artist also spent some time living in Los Angeles, where he worked on his first international album, Nightingale. It was produced by Sérgio Mendes, a Brazilian based in the US.
Gilberto Gil em ensaio para show de divulgação do álbum Nightingale nos Estados Unidos (1979-05)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Gil set off on tour to various cities across the US in the first half of 1979 to promote Nightingale. Most of his performances were at university theaters and in city squares.
Gilberto Gil em show de divulgação do álbum Nightingale nos Estados Unidos (1979-05)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Esboço de clipagem para divulgação de show de Gilberto Gil no Olympia Bruno Coquatria, em Paris (1989-09)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Around the World
The Nightingale album also took Gil to Europe on tour, and ended up prompting his production company, Gege Produções Artísticas, to start organizing international tours for him every year.
It soon became the norm for every album release to be accompanied by a tour in other countries.
Out of the Ordinary
Albums like his 1986 release Gilberto Gil em Concerto even took Gil to Japan. He also did concerts in countries that tended to be overlooked when planning tours, such as Israel.
Gilberto Gil e banda em show da turnê do álbum Raça Humana, em Israel (1984)Instituto Gilberto Gil
General credits
Editing and curation: Chris Fuscaldo / Garota FM
Research - music: Ceci Alves, Chris Fuscaldo, Laura Zandonadi and Ricardo Schott
Research - Ministry of Culture: Carla Peixoto, Ceci Alves and Chris Fuscaldo
Subtitles: Anna Durão, Carla Peixoto, Ceci Alves, Chris Fuscaldo, Daniel Malafaia, Fernanda Pimentel, Gilberto Porcidonio, Kamille Viola, Laura Zandonadi, Lucas Vieira, Luciana Azevedo, Patrícia Sá Rêgo, Pedro Felitte, Ricardo Schott, Roni Filgueiras and Tito Guedes
Data editing: Isabela Marinho and Marco Konopacki
Gege Produções Review: Cristina Doria
Acknowledgements: Gege Produções, Gilberto Gil, Flora Gil, Gilda Mattoso, Fafá Giordano, Maria Gil, Meny Lopes, Nelci Frangipani, Cristina Doria, Daniella Bartolini e todos os autores das fotos e personagens da história
All media: Instituto Gilberto Gil
*Every effort has been made to credit the images, audios and videos and correctly tell the story about the episodes narrated in the exhibitions. If you find errors and/or omissions, please contact us by email atendimentogil@gege.com.br
