There are not too many things I would rather do on Monday night then go to a good concert. Idea of hearing live both Alex Cuba and Bebel Gilberto at the same venue (Toronto’s Sound Academy) was intriguing enough to get me out of home. So here I was, standing in front of the Sound Academy on a chill November night and waiting for doors to open. The organizers forgot to mention that 8pm is NOT the time of the concert beginning, but the time when doors open. As result, dozens if not hundreds of concert goers ended up back in their cars waiting. Those less fortunate, who arrived by TTC or taxi, were freezing outside. Oh, well…

Alex Cuba’s one hour set was as energetic and entertaining as always. It is difficult to find a trio (Alex Cuba, vocals, el.guitar, David Max Senitt, drums and David Marion, el. bass) that can extract so much musicality out of only three instruments and a vocal. Being the last show on their one-month Canadian tour promoting the new album, the band was tight and yet relaxed and spontaneous. One can only hope to hear the material in a large Motown-style setup. Latin percussions and brass section would bring the whole experience to another level, and make us put our dancing shoes on!

Bebel Gilberto is a legend in her own right. Not as well known in North America as she is in Europe, she brings a polished mix of Brazilian beats and harmonies, euro pop and electronica. An experienced performer, Bebel clearly keeps the audience focused on both her solid vocal and sometimes very theatrical presence. I wish I had a chance to throw myself in a lounge sofa and enjoy this one, as this really wasn’t a standing concert. Even though it is to expect a certain amount of pre-recorded material when dealing with electronica, at times performance really sounded like a glorified karaoke. That’s unfortunate, because the band has shown formidable music skills on those numbers when they actually played. No complaints, though. My best Monday experience lately.