Getz/Gilberto

This CD is famous for helping making the bossa nova popular. Astrud Gilberto, the novice singer, does a fine job on "The Girl From Ipanema" and "Corcovado". This CD is very poppy, but Stan Getz's sax pulls it towards jazz. He plays with taste and simplicity. Though the rhythm section of Jobim, Williams, and Banana get credit for making it swing, to me, the songs' rhythms are all pretty similar.

This is another artist/arranger who shaped my childhood. My father was totally into the Afro-Cuban movement in jazz (thanks to Dizzy & company). He also loved Stan Getz. So a Getz/Joao Gilberto collaboration (arranged by Gil Evans) was a must-have in our home.

Everyone is familiar with the "Girl From Ipanema," and Joao's ethereal vocals in Portugese and Astrud's bright, clean vocals in English just make this a beauty. Add Getz' sensual saxophone riffs and Gil Evans' arrangements and you're in heaven. Enough said!

Another great product from Amazon. Arrived ahead of schedule & in great condition.

This 1963 album is one of the best examples of flawless bossa nova music to date. Stan Getz playing the saxophone, Joao Gilberto on guitar and Antonio Carlos Jobim on piano blend simultaneously into a uniquely talented trio of musicians as their hearts and minds create one exquisite song after another.

As another reviewer correctly notes, most of the songs on this CD were written by Antonio Carlos Jobim. He remains one of the most gifted musicians and composers to this day. I also especially liked Astrud Gilberto's singing in "The Girl From Ipanema" and "Corcovado (Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars)." Yes, Astrud sometimes sang flat; but it is no matter here. It works beautifully to have her singing along with the music.

Another plus about this CD is the addition of two tracks that were not available on the original LP release: the 45 rpm issues of "The Girl From Ipanema" and "Corcovado (Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars.)" I really liked comparing the shorter 45 rpm versions to the original, longer versions of both songs.

The sound quality was very good but not quite perfect. There is a slight hissing in the background especially when I hear the saxophone being played solo by Getz. I looked in the liner notes and they do mention that there was some "tape delamination" on track five ("Corcovado") and that "some of the master takes have been faded longer or later than they were on the original LP issue." I wonder if this had anything to do with what I heard. In addition, the liner notes also offer a great essay by Doug Ramsey as well as the original liner notes for the LP. There are beautiful photos of Getz, Gilberto and Astrud.

This is a wonderful album to relax with or to play while you entertain company for dinner. The experience is sophisticated stylishness! The fact that most of the lyrics are in Portuguese is not a concern for those who do not understand the language; the music is so beautiful and the lyrics are so poetic anyway that the overall listening experience is memorable. Not only is this music timeless, it is so well performed with each and every subtle nuance that it possesses a universal appeal decades after its' release.

Highly recommended for bossa nova fans, fans of great Latin music and people who crave international music.

This is truly a classic Stan Getz album. His rich, distinctive tenor sax sound melts into the bossa nova beat as if he had invented it. Getz's smooth collaboration with Joao Gilberto, Astrud Gilberto, and Antonio Carlos Jobim produce silky, sensuous melodics on every track. This is a must-have for the longtime Getz fan or anyone who has just discovered the legendary 60's bossa nova genre.