Friday evening I attended an event focusing on one of my favorite Brazilian artists, Gilberto Gil. This casual conversation was part of the excellent “Live from the NYPL” series at the New York Public Library, curated and hosted by Paul Holdengräber. We were treated to glimpses into the creative process, the room sprinkled with song as Gil occasionally illustrated points in time with music.
Both Paul and Gil were charming and smart. The interview leaned too much towards other musicians, mostly well-known rockers who influenced Gil. Understandable I think in terms of the audience, an effort perhaps to offer familiar references and context. I would have liked to have heard more about negotiating art in a dictatorship, or perhaps the journey Gil made from outside agitator to government employee as a one-term Minister of Culture. After all ‘Western’ performers who sling lyrics at power know their efforts register as entertainment, earning a governmental shrug over a ticket out-of-town. But Gil, like Fela Kuti, Bob Marley, Thomas Mapfumo, Manno Charlemagne and countless others faced realworld consequences when their music addressed corruption, abuse and neglect. Gil’s status in Brazil rests not only on the grace and beauty of his art, but in remaining relevant over a long stretch of time. Few elder statesmen avoid being a nostalgia act.
One brilliant touch, invigorating a familiar format, was having the interview rendered on paper in real time by artist Flash Rosenberg. Eventually a short animated film will be made, with added touches and music.
You can view some video of past interviews @ vimeo.com/livenypl and see the remaining schedule @ http://www.nypl.org/events/live-nypl. Thanks to everyone at NYPublic for letting us use the illustration above, created during the talk. All about Gilberto Gil can be found @ http://www.gilbertogil.com.br/
There are over 100 recordings of Gil’s here at the ARChive. Here’s a discography minus the Various Artists collections and guest shots…
• A Arte Maior De Gilberto Gil (Fontana, Brasil, 6470 537/8, 12″, vinyl disc-2Lp, 1975)
• A Gente Precisa Ver o Luar (WEA, Brazil, BR 38.180, 12″, vinyl disc-Lp, 1981)
• A Voz de Gilberto Gil (Fontana, Brasil, 6488 111, 12″ , vinyl disc-Lp, 1981)
• Acoustic (Warner, Brazil, 82564-2, 5″, compact disc, 1994)
• Antologia do Samba-Choro [Gilberto Gil & Germano Mathias ] (Philips, USA, 6349 361, 12″, vinyl disc-Lp, 1978)
• Ao Vivo em Tùquio (Live in Tokyo) (Braziloid, USA, BR 4009, 12″, vinyl disc-LP, 1987)
• Brasil [Joao Gilberto, Caetono Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Maria Bethïnia] (Warner Bros., USA, BSK 3613, 12″, vinyl disc-Lp, 1981)
• “Chororo” / “Respeita Januario” (Elektra Records, Brazil, BR 12.024, 7″, vinyl disc-Single or Ep, 1978)
• Dia Dorim Noite Neon (Warner Bros, Brasil, BR 36.207 / 610.6012, 12″, vinyl disc-Lp , 1985)
• Doces Barbaros [Caetano Veloso, Gal Costa, Gilberto Gil, Maria Bethania] (Philips, Brasil , 6349 307/8, 12″, vinyl disc-2Lp, 1976)
• Expresso 2222 (Fontana, Brazil, 6488 194, 12″, vinyl disc-Lp, 1982)
• Extra (WEA Latina, WH 50128, 5″, compact disc, 1983)
• Extra (Warner, Brazil, BR 36198, 12″, vinyl disc-Lp, 1983)
• Gil Jorge [Gilberto Gil, Jorge Ben]. (Verve, USA, 314 512 067 2, 5″, compact disc, 1975)
• Gilberto Gil (Abril Cultural, Brasil, n.n., 12″, vinyl disc-LP, 1982)
• Gilberto Gil (PolyGram, Brasil, , 12″, vinyl disc-Lp , 1982)
• Gilberto Gil (Philips, Brazil, 6349.006, 12″, vinyl disc-Lp , 1971)
• Gilberto Gil (Abril Cultural, Brasil, HMPB-13, 10″, vinyl disc-Lp, 1977)
• Gilberto Gil (Fontana, Brasil, 6488 147, 12″, vinyl disc-Lp, 1982)
• Le Troubadour du BrÄsil (Warner Jazz, France, WE 889, 5″, compact disc, 1997)
• Music from the film Me You Them (Atlantic, USA, 83430-2, 5″, compact disc, 2000)
• Nightingale (Elektra, USA, 6E-167, 12″, vinyl disc-Lp, 1979)
• O Eterno Deus Mu Danìa (WEA, Brasil, 670.8059, 12″, vinyl disc-Lp, 1989)
• Personalidade (Philips, Brazil, 832 216-1, 12″, vinyl disc-Lp, 1987)
• Quanta (Mesa/Blue Moon. USA, , 5″, compact disc, )
• Quanta (WEA, Brazil, 063018644-2, 5″, compact disc-2CD, 1997)
• Quilombo (trilha sonora) (WEA International, France, 251632-1, 12″, vinyl disc-Lp, 1984)
• Raìa Humana (Warner Bros., Brasil, BR 36.201, 12″, vinyl disc-Lp, 1984)
• Raìa Humana / Human Race (WEA International, USA, WEA 1805, 12″, vinyl disc-Lp, 1984)
• Re, Sol Vida (Warner Bros., Brasil, BR 26.133, 12″, vinyl disc-Lp, 1985)
• Realce (WEA Latina, USA, WH 53068, cassette, 1979)
• Realce (WEA, Germany, 25.0038-1, 12″, vinyl disc-Lp, n.d.)
• Realce (Elektra, Brasil, BR 32.038, 12″, vinyl disc-Lp , 1978)
• Refavela (Philips, Brasil, 5349 329, 12″, vinyl disc-Lp , 1977)
• Refazenda (PHILIPS, Brasil, 6349 152, 12″, vinyl disc-Lp , 1975)
• Soy Loco Por Ti America (Braziloid, USA, BR 4000, 12″, vinyl disc-Lp , 1988)
• Temporada de verïo – ao vivo na Bahia [Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Gal Costa] (Philips, Brasil, 6349 108, 12″, vinyl disc-Lp, 1984)
• The Eternal God of Change (Tropical Storm, USA, WH 56620, 5″, compact disc, 1989)
• Tropicçlia 2 [Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso] (Philips, Brasil, 79339 , 12″, vinyl disc-Lp , 1993)
• Um Banda Um (WEA Latina, USA, WH 50006, 5″, compact disc, 1982)
• Um Banda Um (Warner Bros, Brasil, BR 26.063, 12″, vinyl disc-Lp , 1982)
• Z300 Anos de Zumbi (Blue Jackel Entertainment , 54634-2, 5″, compact disc, 2002)