Getz/Gilberto

Bossa Nova started in Brazil in the late `50s. The "First Generation" included Antonio Carlos Jobim, Joao Gilberto and Vinicius de Moraes as their main artists. Their themes were composed focusing on "Love, Smiles & Flowers" and greatly influenced Latin America's music and even USA's jazz composers.

The present CD was recorded in 1963 when Bossa Nova was the "new thing" mixing with Jazz and conquering USA.
Three geniuses, Joao Gilberto (guitar and vocals), Stan Getz (tenor saxophone) and "Tom" Jobim (piano and composer of eight of the ten musical pieces in the CD) join and mix their efforts to give the audience an outstanding performance.
On top of all that Astrud Gilberto sang "Girl from Ipanema" (she had never before performed professionally) and became instantly a star.
Sebastiao Neto bass and Milton Banana drums complete the musical team.

"Girl from Ipanema" make you feel being at the wonderful Ipanema Beach surrounded by the loveliest girls in the world (believe me, I've been there). Astrud's voice is just unbelievable.
I recommend hearing, enjoying and comparing this song's version with the one recorded in 1967 by Sinatra and Jobim.
"Corcovado" aka "Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars" evokes those wonderful starred nights from Rio de Janeiro, with all their sensual appeal, hearing soft guitar music. Getz's saxophone phrasing is just from another world!
"Para Machucar Meu Coracao" ("To Hurt my Heart" authored by Ary Barroso) is the story of a love affaire gone sour. Joao Gilberto's voice is able to express heartrending pain.

This CD is one of the Top Popular Music in my personal selection, tied up with before mentioned Jobim-Sinatra. I recommend it warmly!
Reviewed by Max Yofre.

Hopefully this will not be interpreted as a flagrant advertisement. I am not affiliated with the below mentioned artist in any way. BUT...

If you are anything like me and have loved this Getz/Gilberto album (for me it was far and away my favorite Brazilian music), you really MUST hear a much more recent artist by the name of Marcio Faraco. I guarantee you will not be disappointed. He has three CD's you will find on Amazon and I have brief reviews of each. His style is very reminiscent of Gilberto and the recording quality excellent.

For someone who loves jazz, this album is sublime. I must have warn out the original album, and now I have it as a CD.

Perfect for mid-week decompression, that rainy night with a cup of tea or Sunday morning with the Chronicle.

While the world slept, jazz legends like bassist Charlie Haden and guitarist Charlie Byrd were taking trips to Brazil and hearing these curious musicians playing something called bossa nova. On one such trip, Byrd returned to the states with some recordings by Joao Gilberto and Antonio Carlos Jobim. The music on those early tapes kept nagging at Byrd's brain, until he gave in and shared his burning secret with saxophone legend and friend Stan Getz.

Getz really liked what he had heard. He contacted producer Creed Taylor at Verve Records, expressing his desire to play with these guys down in Brazil. Before that recording would be made, in the interim, Byrd and Getz got together and recorded the album "Jazz Samba" in 1962. Suddenly the world woke up and took notice of this new sound with the Billboard hit "Desafinado". Within months the album itself went to number one. Later that same year, Getz recorded the album "Big Band Bossa Nova" and then collaborated with Luiz Bonfa to record the album "Jazz Samba Encore" with Creed Taylor as producer for Verve. The craze had officially begun.

Yet the defining bossa nova album was yet to be recorded, despite the impressive success of Getz's early collaborations. On March 18, 1963 the record, this classic record you see for sale here today, was recorded with Stan Getz on tenor saxophone, Joao Gilberto on guitar/vocals, and Antonio Carlos Jobim on piano. Astrud Gilberto was not a musician by any standard prior to this recording. She was simply Joao Gilberto's wife, but one night Getz asked her to sing the English portion of the classic song "The Girl From Ipanema". The rest is history.

To many jazz connoisseurs, this album is the defining recording of bossa nova that set the bar. It won two Grammys in 1964 for best album and best jazz album. But the pop, mainstream acceptance of this album is not what makes this album a must have. This recording is timeless for the musical talent and longevity of those who participated in its creation. Stan Getz was one of the masters of jazz tenor saxophone. His playing combined with the compositional and playing power of Jobim and Gilberto are what make this album withstand the harsh test of time. This is one of the greatest recordings ever made and belongs on the shelf of all music lovers. If you have the old 78, consider this 20-bit digital transfer remaster an overdue upgrade. The music has never been more alive than on this, and you receive two bonus alternate takes as well. Attractively packaged in a cardboard digipak, to hesitate buying this version any longer would be a crime. I give it three billion stars.