Customer Reviews

Bossa Nova: Verve Jazz Masters 53

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've owned this CD for over 3 years now; I consider it among my top 3.

There's a moment soon after you first hit play and begin hearing the Astrud Gilberto's sublime voice, Jobim's guitar, and Getz's knee-buckling sax, that you realize that you're not just listening to good jazz, or even good music. Indeed, you are not listening to anything. You are on the musical equivalent of a magic carpet, with the world as just so much stardust, and time no longer a relevant concept.

This CD compilation is definitive Bossa Nova. You will probably never experience music which blends rhythm, harmony, and melody as well as what you'll find here. Getz's sax is absolutely incredible.

This is not an album, and as such it is not the definitive Bossanova statement. However, it is the best disc for exploring the genre.

The collaboration between Getz and Jobim was magical. Latin beats fused with jazz rhythms aren't revolutionary in 2001, but this was groundbreaking stuff in the early 60s. What's more the music sounds as fresh as ever.

Astrud Gilberto had no musical experience prior to the Getz/Jobim/Gilberto experiment, and it's a good thing that they let her sing. Her voice is sublime, and the live version of "The Girl From Ipanema" which is presented here is perfect. This CD strikes a nice balance between vocal and instrumental tracks to give a great overview of the genre, one of the most influential in modern music.

I've always been one to explore different genres of music, so I bought this cd not really knowing what to expect from it. I bought it because it was part of the Jazz Masters series so I figured it must be good. It turned out to be soooo much better than good. I absolutely fell in love with this music. Now I am on a quest to buy as many albums like this as I can. Stan Getz is so incredible on the sax alone, but you add in Astrud and Joao Gilberto and the music is just magical. I'm a 22 yr old and now that I've discovered this music I can't even bare to listen to the crap on the radio anymore. I am so happy I found this album, this music, it lifts my spirit, and eases my soul at the end of the day!! It is PERFECTION!!!

"Charlie Byrd was one of many musicians who had returned from a tour of Brazil fascinated by the elegant, jazz-inflected bossa nova music, which was transporting the traditional samba into richer harmonic area over a floating beat. Bossa Nova was made for Getz, whose aesthetic combined beauty and swing in a fashion similar to the Brazilian's. Other musicians would record the new Brazilian music; but it was Getz's sound and sensibility that turned bossa nova into a phenomenon in the U.S. at a time when jazz was growing more exploratory and pop music was awaiting Motown and the British Invasion. And a phenomenon is just what bossa nova became after the Getz-Byrd album "Jazz Samba" was released in the spring of 1962 - represented here by "Samba De Uma Nota So" (One Note Samba) and "Samba Triste." ~ Bob Blumenthal ~

Bossa Nova is an elegant jazz-inflected music that swept America by storm in the early sixties. It's Brazil's "infectiously lyrical gift to the world." It was fascinatingly embraced not only by great musicians but by the listening public as well. In addition to Antonio Carlos Jobim, Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66, Laurindo Almeida, Ellis Regina, Joćo and Astrud Gilberto, Eliane Elias, some of the famous musicians who recorded this music include Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Wes Montgomery, Rosemary Clooney, Sarah Vaughan, Natalie Cole, John Pizzarelli, Kenny Rankin and Diana Krall, among countless others.

"Stan Getz: Bossa Nova" is one of the most notable recordings in this genre. The genius of saxophone plays his favorite instrument in a manner so enchanting, lyrical, and brilliant. From "Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars" to "The Girl From Ipanema," Mr. Getz's works are full of virtuosity and majesty.

My choice cuts include a live recording of "The Girl From Ipanema" which starts off with Joćo Gilberto's Portuguese lyrics and followed by his wife Astrud's English lyrics. Antonio Carlos Jobim plays his distinctive piano style in "Desafinado" with Joćo Gilberto's vocals while Luis Bonfá shows off his mastery in guitar on "How Insensitive" with Maria Toledo providing the surprisingly charming vocals.

Not to be outshined, Charlie Bird presents his creativity on guitar in "One Note Samba." This track was taken from the very successful album "Jazz Samba." Its success was overwhelming that it stayed on the pop charts for more than a year and at one time hit the number one spot.

Also noteworthy are Luis Bonfá's "Manha De Carnaval" and Jobim/Moraes' "No More Blues," featuring a talented arranger/conductor Gary McFarland and his Orchestra and whole bunch of great musicians including Clark Terry on flugelhorn, Hank Jones on piano and Jim Hall on guitar, to name a few.

Two more great listens are my absolute favorites "Only Trust Your Heart" and "Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars" with Astrud Gilberto's sultry and beguiling vocal style that reminds me so much of Claudine Longet.

"Only Trust Your Heart"
Beautiful Words and Music by Sammy Cahn and Benny Carter

Never trust the stars
When you're about to fall in love
Look for hidden signs
Before you start to sigh

Never trust the moon
When you're about to taste his kiss
He knows all the lines
And lips so often lie

Just wait for a night
When the skies are all bare
Then see if you care

Never trust your dream
When you're about to fall in love
Or your dream will quickly fall apart
So if you're smart, really smart
Only trust your heart.

Listen to it and enjoy the heartwarming and enchanting sounds of Bossa Nova.

If you are just now getting into Bossa Nova...uhhh...it's about time! This is such great music. A lot of people think that Bossa Nova is lightweight and lacks substance...but then again, a lot of people who now have proof of living on a round planet still insist that the world is flat.

Their world is flat because it looks color...it lacks variety...

people allow themselves to become one dimensional. They don't go outside of their own preferences. I have a question to ask of you, how did you get to know what your preferences were in the first place? Huh? Answer that, Mr. Bossa Nova Naysayer/Miss Stan Getz Dismissist...

The only reason why I happened to get into jazz was because when I was thirteen or so, somebody had the nerve to turn mess with my stereo and they had turned the dial to some other station. Infuriated, I began to slowly move the dial across the band and I "accidentally"...remember this, there are no accidents...came across a jazz station. This wasn't Aerosmith, this wasn't Led Zeppelin, this wasn't Boston...this was something new...or at least new to me...and something within my heart leaped...

something in my soul said, "YES", but y'see the whole point of this little story is to just remind people...not just you...but to remind all of us, that we need to s t r e t c h our minds,

our hearts, our spirits and learn to be more accepting and ultimately more embracing of new types of music, literature, art and so on. How boring I would be if I still listened to just Boston. I'd probably still have a mullet and have a beer belly with the emotional intelligence quotient of a thirteen year old...

So again, if you're new to Bossa Nova, welcome! Start with this album. It's a 73 minute glimpse to some of the very best of this musical genre. You have the always delightful Stan Getz playing his well-trained sax. He is truly amazing.

So let's just say you did buy this CD and you weren't tremendously happy with your purchase. Sure, you could send me an e-mail telling me you hated it, but I would just tell you to listen to it again...and again...and again...listen to it until all your preconceived ideas of what constitutes as "good" dissolve into the "real" good that is good, was good, and will always be good come to the forefront.

In this particular review I am catering to the Bossa Nova Novice, but if you are like me and have been a fan for some time, what are you waiting for, you should have already bought the dang thing.

May you always be willing to be more than you were 23 hours ago...

Peace and Blessings

This cd was a find for me in a 2nd hand store (by chance)... Ooooh, what a treat it is for it is a masterpiece... For Getz, Gilberto and Joao along with others have made music that will last forever... Yes, as you can see, it has "The Girl from Ipanema"... Though, my favorite track on it is #1, "Corcovado (Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars) - with vocals that calm the mind and pick you up at the same time... So don't delay, pick this CD up now, for it is the quintessential summertime music that is a must have for lounging around alone or get togethers at the beach - Savannah Skye...

I grew up with my parents listening to this and other music of this time. Now here I am, 40-50 years later re-living those years. The quality of this music, the passion behind it never dies.

Love this CD, perfect listening music, it has that smooth fluidly feeling, it's a great CD, I wanted Bossa Novo and this is the bomb, Stan Getz is a legend....

Have long been fan of Bossa Nova. This cd is just alright. I would not necessarily recommend but on occasion I performs as nice background music.

This is just a Verve compilation of random Stan Getz bossa nova tracks, not anything the genius cool jazz saxman ever had anything to do with putting together. Don't let that stop you. As a one disc sampler of the Getz bossa nova years, it's excellent. Great sound quality. These tracks never go out of style. All are exquisite.