Customer Reviews

The Bossa Nova Years (The Girl from Ipanema)

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There is a line here sung by Astrud Gilberto (from an American song, but never mind) - 'I feel so gay in a melancholy way' - that sums up for me the eternal appeal of bossa nova: beach music cooled with sadness that somehow seizes your tired soul, making it feel warm and happy.

This remarkable set - which, along with 'the Antonio Carlos Jobim Songbook', is the only CD I intend to take to my desert island - contains the five prodigious bossa nova albums recorded by Stan Getz in the early 60s: 'Jazz Samba' (the still sparkle-fresh collaboration with Charlie Byrd that introduced bossa nova to the world); 'Big Band Bossa Nova' (a not always successful attempt to combine two mutually exclusive forms, but featuring two epic classics, 'Manha de Carnival' and 'Chega Suadade'); 'Jazz Samba Encore' (an otherworldly masterpiece with Luiz 'Black Orpheus' Bonfa and singer Maria Toldo); 'Getz/Gilberto' (my own treasured favourite, a matchless meeting of four great talents, Getz, Jobim, Joao and Astrud Gilberto) and 'Getz/Almeida' (a rigorous, last gasp jazz workout).

All the great classics are here - 'Desafinado' (will anyone ever spell this right?), 'Insensatez' (swoon), 'O Morro Nao Tem Vez', 'One note samba', 'The girl from Ipanema', 'Corcovado' etc. (you'll know them all even if you think you don't) - together with some less familiar delights. What is perhaps most exceptional is the way Getz adapts like a chameleon to the very different needs of his various collaborators, and yet still retains the distinctive, emotional sax genius we know and love.

There are some extra tracks included as well, including Getz's only collaboration with Baden-Powell, some live numbers with the Gilbertos, and an absolutely blissful, happysad 'It might as well be spring', the only track I've ever heard that actually DOES sound like spring.

Be fore-warned, if you simply buy the single Getz/Jobim cd (which Verve has recently re-mastered and re-packaged, you will be longing for more. So, cut to the chase and simply break down and make the investment from the start.

I don't know where to begin with this set. I've had it for years now, and have never grown the least bit weary of it.

This is perfect, beautiful, music for every facet of your life. Whether it's relaxing, lounging, sailing, "digging your toes in soft sand", "sunning while sipping fruity intoxics", intimacy, "driving along your favorite road, top down," or even "staring out the window at the rain" music.

In short, I love this set and all it offers. So too, will you, I wager. My favorite style of Getz, accompanied by Brazil's finest.

VERY, VERY worth it.

I've had a copy of this wonderful collection in my possesion in one form or another for the last thirteen years. Once I finally threw out the tattered cassettes, I moved on to this four CD set. I can't praise it enough. It's not just the well known favorites like Girl From Ipanema or Desafinado, but the whole anthology. From the quiet tones of Corcovado to Stan's incredile blowing on So Danco Samba, there's something great on nearly every track. I'm only 31 and I've introduced this CD to the boom box on many occasions around my friends more accustomed to Pearl Jam or old Ozzy and the reaction has always been the same; "Is this elevator music?" But soon they hear the same passionate soul that nearly knocked the Beatles off the top of the charts in the mid '60s (read Phil Schaap's liner notes!) and realize that there's something special here and begin to really enjoy it. It's a warm Summer barbecue or any time you need to kick up your feet after a hard day at work with a cold drink. This is something with which to either complete or begin your samba collection.

This is a 4 CD Box set of Stan Getz Samba Jazz. It has an amazing live version of the Girl from Ipanema. However, there are too many songs to list all the great ones. I honestly have listened to all 4 CD's back to back a number of times. If you love Stan Getz or Samba this is a must have, and will bring you endless enjoyment. If you are looking for a start to the Jazz Bossa Nova movement Stan Getz, and this set is a great place to start. Desafindo was (and is) a very popular song, and even hit the pop charts in it's original release. This is my favorite Stan Getz period.

My husband bought this set for me for Christmas several years ago, and he's been handsomer ever since. And I've been cooler. And my friends have been smarter. This collection could change your life.

After having having foolishly traded away my vinyl copy, (origianlly released on 5 LP's) I was delighted to find this CD reissue. This is the only place to find Getz's entire Verve output of Samba and Bosa Nova recordings. The first disc is comprised of Getz's collaboration with the late great Jazz/Samba guitarist, Charlie Byrd and contains the classic Antonio Carlos Jobim compostion, Desafino. Disc two finds Getz in the company of Brizil's premier Samba vocalist Joao Gilberto. The combination of Getz's velvety smooth tenor and Gilberto's elegantly cool vocal stylings makes for an astonishing match made in Samba Heaven. Songs from this historic pairing include the highly recognizable The Girl From Impanema and the hypnotic Samba De Uma Nota So, (One Note Samba).

Disc three covers the Getz/Astrid Gilberto hits and includes the lovely Corcovado and It Might As Well Be Spring as well as the enormous international hit, The Girl From Impanema, (not to be confused with the Getz/Joao Gilberto version). This is the recording that put Bosa Nova on the map and caused a huge sensation from Brazil to Japan and all stops in between. As undeniably the biggest hit ever to come out of South America, The Girl From Impenema has been recorded by everyone from Frank Sinatra to Ella Fitzgerald. The many other highlights found here include Getz in the company of an allstar jazz lineup on the Big Band Bosa Nova sides. While this may be too much material for the casual fan to digest, I suggest you begin with the Getz/Joao Gilberto album. If you find yourself hooked and yearning for more, go directly to this anthology it's worth the time and money.

this is the mother of all Stan Getz samba collections, this box set contains virtually every classic Bossa Nova and Samba tune Stan Getz ever played. Desafinado, Manha De Carnival, Corcovado, So Danco Samba, It might As Well Be Spring and of course the timeless Girl from Ipanema. Plus alternate takes and live performances. Thank those pesky people at verve for this wonderful box set. This collection contains 4cd of Getz seductively playing. The first two Cd's are primarily instrumentals. The third is a mixture of instrumentals and singing and the fourth is mostly singing and some live performances. (The live performances of the girl from ipanema and corcavado are sublime.) This box set is music that you can get lost into but 4 samba cd's may be a little too much for those who are not Samba enthusiasts or fans of Stan Getz. Perhaps you want to start off with Jazz Samba or Getz/ Giberto as a sampler of Bossa Nova music but be forwarned that you may wind up buying this set later after you've fallen in love with Samba music

This is perfect music for lovers or to perk up a quiet evening. It's a complete anthology of Getz' Bossa work on Verve, so some songs are repeated, but they're each unique enough to remain interesting. The sensual, lilting voice of Astrud Gilberto can make listeners melt completely... but you can tell your sweetheart it's her! :-) And Antonio Carlos Jobim himself, the father of the Bossa movement, plays on several numbers. It's bound to be a hit - highly recommended!

My husband bought this set for me for Christmas several years ago, and he's been handsomer ever since. And I've been cooler. And my friends have been smarter. This collection could change your life.

Ran into this a couple years ago at the public library and hit the Bossa Nova mother lode. Realized that it would make a perfect gift and serendipitously found it on special sale. Should've bought all the copies I could!

This has to be one of the best box sets ever, both from a musical and an archival point of view. Since the other reviewers have described so well the contents of this collection, I only want to exhort you, the prospective buyer, to keep a sharp eye out for an opportunity to grab it at a favorable price.

In the meantime, let's hope Verve prints more copies. This is music that will never go out of style.