Getz / Gilberto

iTunes Review

Bossa nova, a sophisticated blending of jazz and samba that emerged in Brazil in the 1950s and ’60s, turned the heads of a number of American jazz musicians at the time, and soon it became common for jazzmen to incorporate the sensuous, harmonically rich South American style into their work. Getz/Gilberto is one of the essential recordings of this meeting of two great musical cultures. Tenor saxophonist Stan Getz, who had a long and varied career, is still probably best known for the exquisitely melodic playing of his bossa period. Two legendary Brazilian musicians, guitarist/singer Joao Gilberto and composer/pianist Antonio Carlos Jobim, join the expressive saxophonist for this landmark session. (Bassist Tommy Williams, who played in Getz’s band, and Milton Banana, father of bossa nova drumming, round out the group.) “The Girl From Ipanema,” which features English-language vocals by Gilberto’s wife, Astrud, truly deserves its classic status, but the whole album is excellent. The perky “Doralice” features an inventive solo by Getz and some nice wordless singing by Joao. On “Para Machuchar Meu Coracao,” Joao sings in a heartbreaking, tender fashion while Getz weaves another wonder of concise expression. And did we mention the amazing “Desafinado” and “Corcovado?”