Stan Getz
Getz/Gilberto
The Man from Ipanema
Antônio Carlos Jobim

International » Brazilian Traditions » Bossa Nova

Influenced by West coast jazz, in the 1950s composer Antonio Carlos Jobim helped to form Bossa Nova, a new music that blended together gentle Brazilian rhythms and melodies with cool-toned improvising; the rhythms are usually played lightly as 3-3-4-3-3 with beats 1, 4, 7, 11, and 14 being accented during every two-bars (played in 8/4 time). Joao Gilberto's soothing voice perfectly communicated the beauty of Jobim's music. The late '50s film Black Orpheus helped introduce Jobim's compositions to an American audience. Other important early exponents of bossa nova were guitarist Charlie Byrd, tenor saxophonist Stan Getz (Byrd and Getz teamed up for the highly influential Jazz/Samba), and housewife-turned-singer Astrud Gilberto -- who, along with her husband (Joao) and Getz, made "The Girl From Ipanema" a huge hit. The very appealing bossa nova's popularity peaked in the mid-'60s, but it has remained a viable music style.

Bossa Nova Artists Highlights

Stan Getz
Stan Getz
Antônio Carlos Jobim
Antônio Carlos Jobim
João Gilberto
João Gilberto
Marcos Valle
Marcos Valle
Sergio Mendes
Sergio Mendes
Gal Costa
Gal Costa

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Bossa Nova Album Highlights

Getz/Gilberto
Stan Getz / João Gilberto
Getz/Gilberto
The Man from Ipanema
Antônio Carlos Jobim
The Man from Ipanema
Jazz Samba
Stan Getz / Charlie Byrd
Jazz Samba
Samba '68
Marcos Valle
Samba '68
Four Sider
Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 ...
Four Sider
Bossa Nova Brasil
Various Artists
Bossa Nova Brasil

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Bossa Nova Song Highlights

Title/Composer Performer Stream
The Girl from Ipanema Stan Getz / João Gilberto
Summer Samba (So Nice) Walter Wanderley
Crickets Sing for Anamaria Marcos Valle
Manha de Carnaval Luiz Bonfá
One Note Samba Stan Getz
Atrás da Porta Chico Buarque / Martins
Mas Que Nada Tamba Trio
Berimbau Baden Powell
Corcovado (Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars) Stan Getz Quartet / Astrud Gilberto
Meditation (Meditação) João Gilberto

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Other Styles in Brazilian Traditions