Bossa Nova Covers of

After a six-year span since making her final recording for Concord, singer Eden Atwood's triumphant return to the studio exudes a confidence that some writers think was lacking in her earlier work. With first-rate arrangements by pianist Bill Cunliffe and a supporting cast including alto saxophonist and flutist Pete Christlieb, guitarist Anthony Wilson, bassist Darek Oles, drummer Joe LaBarbera, and percussionist Scott Breadman, Atwood delves into memorable tunes by Antonio Carlos Jobim ("Meditation," "The Girl From Ipanema," and "He's a Carioca") as well as bossa nova treatments of Duke Ellington's overlooked gem "Don't You Know I Care?," Irving Berlin's "How Deep Is the Ocean?," and the Beatles' "The Fool on the Hill" with equal success…

Bossa Nova translated as the "new beat" or "the new style", grew out of Rio De Janeiro in 1958. The instigators were a handful of artists with a desire to break from tradition, developing the samba rhythms with the influence of cool American jazz to find a music with such a warm soul and natural rhythm that no-one can help but tap and sway to its beat. Bossa Nova is palm trees swaying, it is like melting sugar in hot coffee, it is the setting sun and warm sand underfoot. It is the sound and beat of Brazil, it is one of the world's coolest musical styles and it remains to this day one of the world's great musical treasures.

Jacintha picks up the tempo on her first bossa nova session. Featuring a program of some of the most well known classics of the genre, including several Jobim favorites like So Nice, Desafinado, Dindi and Corcovado, as well as less familiar tunes like O Ganso and So Danco Samba, this CD is a striking change of pace for Jacintha. With superb work from tenor Harry Allen and guitarist John Pisano (ex-Diana Krall), the album's supreme finishing is the magical playing of legendary Brazilian master percussionist Paulinho Da Costa, who blesses the entire album with an authentic bossa nova vibe.

A sublime little set all the way through - an early 60s date from the west coast scene - and one that was almost as important to that side of the country as the Verve bossa records were to New York! Bud Shank's in the lead on alto sax - no flute at all this time around - blowing sharp and soulfully, in a way that's even more deft than most of his other albums! But the equal star here is the young Clare Fischer - who plays piano in the group, and also contributed a host of original tunes to the set - fresh numbers that are way different than the usual "bossa-ized" standards, or American remakes of Brazilian classics. Ralph Pena is a key member of the group on bass - and Larry Bunker plays some vibes as well. Titles include "Joao", "Pensativa", "Samba Guapo", "Samba Da Borboleta", and "Que Mais?".

A real standout from the great Shorty Rogers - and a smoking set that has him turning his many talents towards the world of bossa nova! By the time of this set, Shorty was as great an arranger as he was a trumpeter - really one of the go-to guys around LA for hipper soundtracks and vocal dates - and he really shows off his skills on a set of lively arrangements that pop and sparkle a lot more than other American bossa jazz outings of this nature! The set features lots of acoustic guitar and percussion - and bold trumpet and flugelhorn solos by Shorty.

A real standout from the great Shorty Rogers - and a smoking set that has him turning his many talents towards the world of bossa nova! By the time of this set, Shorty was as great an arranger as he was a trumpeter - really one of the go-to guys around LA for hipper soundtracks and vocal dates - and he really shows off his skills on a set of lively arrangements that pop and sparkle a lot more than other American bossa jazz outings of this nature! The set features lots of acoustic guitar and percussion - and bold trumpet and flugelhorn solos by Shorty.

One of the great piano masters of all time, Oscar Peterson scores on this wonderful collection of three discs. Put simply, if you are a fan, this is just what you expect from Mr. Peterson, top notch interpretations of a wide variety of classic songs. As they say, when Oscar plays it, oftentimes it's as though you've never heard it before!

While it's true that Luiz Bonfá is a forgotten name among many bossa nova lovers - past and present - a forgotten name rarely associated with his younger peers he influenced (Jobim, Gilberto, de Moraes) who took the music to international popularity. Bonfá is a ghost whose shadow looms large over the music, whether he is well known or not. He composed both main themes for Black Orpheus, which ended up on the hit soundtrack. Here Bonfá does what he does best: play an amazing guitar, arrange a series of uncredited session players, sing, and dig deep into the roots of bossa nova as it comes out of samba, but then return it changed but folded into the tradition. Tracks like "Samba de Duas Notas" ("Two Note Samba"), with its beautiful guitar/flute front line slipping around and through one another in the bridge, are typical of this man's artistry and innovative…

Alongside Joao Gilberto and Antonio Carlos Jobim, Luiz Bonfa (the co-composer of Black Orpheus) is one of the original trailblazers of the bossa nova sound. Released in 1963 on Verve, Plays And Sings Bossa Nova can safely be certified a classic of the genre. Elegant, lyrical, rhythmic, and a showcase for Bonfa’s deft guitar technique and sweet, unassuming singing, Plays And Sings is an album that will sound good to almost anyone, at any time.