Gilberto Gil String Concert in Israel

Brazilian musician Gilberto Gil will be coming to Israel for one performance only, on April 14, 2011 at the Mann Auditorium in Tel Aviv at 20:30. The String Concert is an acoustic performance of Gil’s hit songs from a career that has spanned more than three decades. Joining Gil will be his son Bem Gil on guitar and percussion, and cellist Jaques Morelenbaum, who has played alongside artists such as Antonio Carlos Jobim, Caetano Veloso, Ryuichi Sakamoto and David Byrne.

His music incorporates Brazilian traditional rhythms such as the baião with international styles of rock, funk, reggae, while Gil’s lyrics address social, political and cultural issues. An important figure in Brazilian culture, Gilberto Gil is associated with the Tropicalism movement which he started with Caetano Veloso in the 1960s. An art movement encompassing several disciplines, its musical expression was in the fusion of musical genres such as Brazilian music, African rhythms and rock and roll. Regarded with suspicion by the regime, Gil and Caetano were imprisoned for their activities and then exiled to London, where Gil remained until 1972.

Since his return to Brazil, Gil has continued to pursue his musical career, while remaining loyal to his political convictions, serving as Brazil’s Minister of Culture from 2003 to 2008 in the administration of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Gil’s most recent album, Badadois, was recorded live in September 2009, at Bradesco Theatre in Sao Paulo and directed by Andrucha Waddington. Special guests for the show were Maria Rita and his sons Bem, on guitar and the youngest in the family José, playing bass on a few songs. Gilberto Gil has released 52 albums, with 12 gold records, 5 platinum albums, 7 Grammys and more than 4 million records sold.

Gilberto Gil will perform on April 14, 2011, at 20:30 at the Mann Auditorium, 1 Hoberman Street, Tel Aviv, 03-5289163. Tickets are 199 – 339 NIS and may be purchased through Hadran 03-5215200.