Good to see an article devoted to the great Brazilian composer-songwriter, Antonio Carlos Jobim. [Hat-tip: Blognor Regis] I must get hold of that CD. Is there really anything "faintly naff" about bossa nova, as the piece implies? Well, only in so far as foreign producers water it down for the MOR market, pumping treacly versions of The Girl From Ipanema into every hotel lift.
To get a full taste of the beauty of the music, try this clip of Insensatez (alias How Insensitive) performed by the wondrous contemporary outfit co-led by Ryuichi Sakamoto and the cellist Jaques [sic] Morelenbaum. Morelenbaum's wife, Paula, supplies the pristine vocals. Their 2003 album, A Day In New York is one of my prize possessions. Dig around on YouTube, and you'll find the group performing Coração Vagabundo, written by Caetano Veloso, greatest musician on the planet. The Renaissance Man's own laid-back collection, A Bossa de Caetano, is a must-hear too. His version of Billie Jean is quite stunning once you get used to the slower tempo.
YouTube also has clips of Frank Sinatra, mid-Sixties-style, singing duets with Jobim. (Yes, it's that Girl again. Neo wrote a good post a while back about the origins of the hit.) If you're a real glutton, tune into this somewhat surreal clip of an unidentified bongo player tapping away to the sound of Jobim and Sting performing How Insensitive on the composer's final album, Antonio Brasileiro.
