Lee Konitz & Bossa

We have been searching for a longer, jazzier interpretation of this classic bossa nova for quite some time. Lee Konitz's lyrical style matches it quite well, although this dreamy composition could have been extended over well over 5 minutes. Perhaps a Paul Desmond would have done an even better job with this material. 

Pra Que Discutir Com Madame

Madame diz que o samba tem cachaça, mistura de raça mistura de cor, Madame diz que o samba democrata, é música barata sem nenhum valor, Vamos acabar com o samba, madame não gosta que ninguém sambe Vive dizendo que samba é vexame Pra que discutir com madame.

Hó Bá Lá Lá

 

Two minutes of pure bliss from a classic of bossa nova.

Bossa Nova with João

One of my favorite bossa nova albums by one of my favorite artists. This lyrical, brilliant bossa nova guitarist is a talented composer and songwriter whose gentle, soothing, sweet sounds are perfect relaxation music. The swaying rhythms, elegant and restrained playing style, and general ethos of bossa nova are just what I need after today...

Rosa Morena

One of my favorite bossa nova songs from João Gilberto's Chega de Saudade has always been a classic by Dorival Caymmi, a pardo songwriter and singer from Bahia. "Rosa Morena," our dark Rosa, is a beautiful song that Gilberto covers beautifully in the bossa nova vein. Check it out!

My favorite line, the final where Gilberto repeats it over and over:
"Que o pessoal está cansado de esperar."

Elza Soares, an Afro-Brazilian samba singer, also does a good job with "Rosa Morena." She has a great, raspy voice that she uses to scat with jazz-inspired horn accompaniment and loud, clear samba rhythms. Got to love me some Elza Soares, a bossa negra!

Here is the original by Dorival Caymmi, a beautiful rendition featuring a great vocalist and composer of the song. Features horn section and is not too different from Elza Soares, though his voice is quite distinct. Both Afro-Brazilians, Soares takes a much more jazz and scat-inspired approach to singing with a raspy voice while Caymmi has a clear, strong and deep voice that soars poetically over his poetic lyrics. His music encapsulated the world of Bahia, and particularly Salvador, a city and region of Brazil where Afro-Brazilians (pretos and pardos) have had the dominant influence on culture.

Anjos do Inferno, a Brazilian group, first recorded Caymmi's song back in 1942. Worth listening to for hearing how popular Brazilian music and samba sounded back then.