Bossa Nova

It must be hard being the daughter of Brazilian music royalty. Bebel Gilberto's father is bossa nova pioneer Joao Gilberto; her mother is the acclaimed singer Miucha; and her former stepmother is the undisputed Queen of Breeze, Astrud Gilberto. With such pedigree, it's no wonder Bebel Gilberto sounds like she's sprinkling elements of all three into her latest album. Gilberto's self-titled sophomore effort is an elusive album, one that won't grow on you immediately. It's far too coy and understated (and sometimes overstated)

This is our pick of the best of the ‘burbs. For more information, go to www.boston.com and search music, restaurants, arts and crafts, and other goings-on throughout Greater Boston. EVENTS North Weymouth : Japan Day features workshops in martial arts, taiko drumming, brush calligraphy, Japanese language, and more. Saturday, 3 p.m. Samurai Academy, 74 Sea St. Free. 781-812-2423. Randolph: Take a creative and fun historical tour of downtown Randolph while you seek the answers to the clues on the Historical Scavenger Hunt sponsored by Randolph Historical Society.

CARACAS, Venezuela - Venezuelan pianist and composer Aldemaro Romero, whose music was interpreted by artists from Tito Puente to Dean Martin, died Saturday. He was 79. His death was caused by complications from an intestinal blockage, said a family spokeswoman. He emerged as a virtuoso pianist in the 1950s and in the following years explored various Venezuelan musical styles while composing innovative symphonic music. His biggest international seller was the album "Dinner in Caracas.

Cheyenne Jackson is stepping into the void left this year by the absence of AMC's "Mad Men. " The "Glee" and "30 Rock" star will sing songs from the 50s and 60s for a one-night-only concert next month with The New York Pops orchestra at Carnegie Hall. According to a press release, the show "will take audiences back to the 'Mad Men' era, when bossa nova was new and dance music was smooth and hip. " The Nov. 18 concert will include Jackson crooning such songs as "Feeling Good," "Luck Be a Lady" and "Sway.

A piano prodigy, Rosa Passos abandoned the instrument and began to sing when she first heard Brazilian singer and guitarist Joao Gilberto. The Brazilian legend long had a profound effect on Passos's career, so it's only fitting that this CD is a tribute to Gilberto and his 1977 classic "Amoroso. " Passos, also a guitarist, puts her own lovely spin on some of that album's best-loved songs, including "Besame Mucho" and the Gershwin standard " 'S Wonderful. " The album is even engineered by Al Schmitt, who served in the same capacity on Gilberto's original album.

Cheyenne Jackson is stepping into the void left this year by the absence of AMC's "Mad Men. " The "Glee" and "30 Rock" star will sing songs from the 50s and 60s for a one-night-only concert next month with The New York Pops orchestra at Carnegie Hall. According to a press release, the show "will take audiences back to the 'Mad Men' era, when bossa nova was new and dance music was smooth and hip. " The Nov. 18 concert will include Jackson crooning such songs as "Feeling Good," "Luck Be a Lady" and "Sway.

Jazz Melody Gardot My One and Only Thril VERVE ESSENTIAL "My One and Only Thrill" Melody Gardot's 2008 debut was swell: an understated collection of savvy jazz-pop packed with Norah Jones-caliber crossover appeal. But the follow-up is a stunner, the work of an artist who over the course of a couple of years has made great leaps as a composer and a lyricist. Gardot is a singer-songwriter who works in the jazz idiom, but where "Worrisome Heart" was an alluring fusion of folk, blues, pop, and jazz, the new album falls firmly into the latter camp.

Mostly Other People Do the Killing knows how to have a good time. The quartet led by bassist and composer Moppa Elliott is one subversive unit, cloaking smart songwriting and serious chops in the guise of goofing off. They don’t just play: They party. Trumpeter Peter Evans and saxophonist Jon Irabagon square off on every tune, going squawk for squawk and squeal for squeal, pitting themselves against the crisp, delicious, sometimes herky-jerky rhythms laid down by Elliott and drummer Kevin Shea.

This is our pick of the best of the ‘burbs. For more information, go to www.boston.com and search music, restaurants, arts and crafts, and other goings-on throughout Greater Boston. EVENTS North Weymouth : Japan Day features workshops in martial arts, taiko drumming, brush calligraphy, Japanese language, and more. Saturday, 3 p.m. Samurai Academy, 74 Sea St. Free. 781-812-2423. Randolph: Take a creative and fun historical tour of downtown Randolph while you seek the answers to the clues on the Historical Scavenger Hunt sponsored by Randolph Historical Society.

PARIS - Henri Salvador, the velvet-voiced French musician credited with inspiring the bossa nova, bringing rock 'n' roll to France, and helping create the music video, died yesterday, his record label said. He was 90. Mr. Salvador died at his Paris home of an aneurysm, said Carine Herve, of the Polydor label. Mr. Salvador was known for his claps of booming laughter, raucous sense of humor, silken singing, and incredible staying power. He worked past his 90th birthday last year, and Polydor said he had planned to record an album this year.

RIO DE JANEIRO - Veteran Bossa Nova composer Billy Blanco has died in Brazil. He was 87. Hospital officials in Rio de Janeiro say he died Friday from complications of a stroke he had in October. Mr. Blanco was there at the heart of the Bossa Nova movement when it bloomed in the early 1960s. He authored more than 300 songs and collaborated with the genre's biggest names, such as Tom Jobim, Joao Gilberto, and Baden Powell. Mr. Blanco was known as the "Diamond of Bossa Nova.

Mostly Other People Do the Killing knows how to have a good time. The quartet led by bassist and composer Moppa Elliott is one subversive unit, cloaking smart songwriting and serious chops in the guise of goofing off. They don’t just play: They party. Trumpeter Peter Evans and saxophonist Jon Irabagon square off on every tune, going squawk for squawk and squeal for squeal, pitting themselves against the crisp, delicious, sometimes herky-jerky rhythms laid down by Elliott and drummer Kevin Shea.

There was no better, or warmer, place to be during Friday night’s raw drizzle than the suddenly perfectly named Paradise, where the Brazilian singer Bebel Gilberto happened to be holding court and conjuring balmy flights of fancy. With a surname like Gilberto, she’s the daughter of musical royalty of course, having been born to Brazilian bossa nova icon João Gilberto (whose delightful “Bim Bom’’ she covered Friday evening) and the legendary singer Miúcha. But being the progeny of famous parents cuts both ways, and she easily could have ended up forever living...

Jazz Melody Gardot My One and Only Thril VERVE ESSENTIAL "My One and Only Thrill" Melody Gardot's 2008 debut was swell: an understated collection of savvy jazz-pop packed with Norah Jones-caliber crossover appeal. But the follow-up is a stunner, the work of an artist who over the course of a couple of years has made great leaps as a composer and a lyricist. Gardot is a singer-songwriter who works in the jazz idiom, but where "Worrisome Heart" was an alluring fusion of folk, blues, pop, and jazz, the new album falls firmly into the...

PARIS - Henri Salvador, the velvet-voiced French musician credited with inspiring the bossa nova, bringing rock 'n' roll to France, and helping create the music video, died yesterday, his record label said. He was 90. Mr. Salvador died at his Paris home of an aneurysm, said Carine Herve, of the Polydor label. Mr. Salvador was known for his claps of booming laughter, raucous sense of humor, silken singing, and incredible staying power. He worked past his 90th birthday last year, and Polydor said he had planned to record an album this year.

The gifted and eclectic Brazilian superstar Caetano Veloso has traversed a world of sounds and styles over the course of 40 years. He helped pioneer Brazil's Tropicalismo movement, a revolutionary fusion of loud guitars, jazzy dissonance, and modern poetry, in the '60s, and ever since Veloso's adventurous spirit has led to artful investigations of Beatlesesque pop, American funk, reggae, electronica, folk, and other genres. At the Orpheum Friday, Veloso tightened his focus in the service and sensibility of his most recent album, "cê.

The gifted and eclectic Brazilian superstar Caetano Veloso has traversed a world of sounds and styles over the course of 40 years. He helped pioneer Brazil's Tropicalismo movement, a revolutionary fusion of loud guitars, jazzy dissonance, and modern poetry, in the '60s, and ever since Veloso's adventurous spirit has led to artful investigations of Beatlesesque pop, American funk, reggae, electronica, folk, and other genres. At the Orpheum Friday, Veloso tightened his focus in the service and sensibility of his most recent album, "cê.

There was no better, or warmer, place to be during Friday night’s raw drizzle than the suddenly perfectly named Paradise, where the Brazilian singer Bebel Gilberto happened to be holding court and conjuring balmy flights of fancy. With a surname like Gilberto, she’s the daughter of musical royalty of course, having been born to Brazilian bossa nova icon João Gilberto (whose delightful “Bim Bom’’ she covered Friday evening) and the legendary singer Miúcha. But being the progeny of famous parents cuts both ways, and she easily could...

CARACAS, Venezuela - Venezuelan pianist and composer Aldemaro Romero, whose music was interpreted by artists from Tito Puente to Dean Martin, died Saturday. He was 79. His death was caused by complications from an intestinal blockage, said a family spokeswoman. He emerged as a virtuoso pianist in the 1950s and in the following years explored various Venezuelan musical styles while composing innovative symphonic music. His biggest international seller was the album "Dinner in Caracas.

NEWPORT, R.I. -- There were smashing debuts from little-known artists such as violinist Jenny Scheinman and trombonist Sarah Morrow. There was the eccentricity of solo guitarist Marc Ribot and exciting pianist Hiromi Uehara . There were the dated but crowd-pleasing R&B vocals of George Benson, the anticipation of the really-I'm-not-smooth-jazz trumpeter Chris Botti, and the hype surrounding the attendance of Prince Albert II of Monaco. But one thing never seems to change when it comes to the JVC Jazz Festival in Newport: The old stuff is what gets the fans juiced.