E Convidados

by Shawn M. HaneyWhen the listening world begins to reflect on the beauty of bossa nova, they dare not forget the achievements of Portugal's Antonio Carlos Jobim, short for Antonio Carlos Brasileiro de Almedia Jobim. This unique musician and composer brought a new revolution of sound and soul to the Latin American public, and is well known for introducing the popular tune "The Girl From Ipanema" to the United States musical mainstream in the 1960s. It was then, with the support of casts of Latin American musicians, including Joao and Astrid Gilberto, that he received well-deserved applause from listeners eager to taste new varieties of music. During this time of great change, a personal friend and quality performer in his own right, Frank Sinatra was so inspired by this new beat that he began to sing many bossa nova tunes written by Jobim, thrusting this new musical language even further into the American limelight. Jobim has composed hundreds of songs, opening the doors of the world to Brazilian music and culture beginning in the 1960s. He is regarded for being the one to truly establish bossa nova as a new genre of music. "Tom must compose. Without him we have nothing to sing," noted Sinatra. His chart-topper and romantic hit "The Girl From Ipanema" sold over a million records in the states. "Garota De Ipanema," as it is referred to in Portuguese, and five more of Jobim's works received radio airplay close to a million times during the 1960s. Only Paul McCartney's "Yesterday" shared that much radio time. This collection released on vinyl by Verve and Polygram in 1985 presents the best of Jobim and his genuine craft. The album is filled with hauntingly beautiful ballads full of delight, romance, and sheer charm. Jobim begins his musical storytelling with "Aguas de Marco," Portuguese for "The Waters of March." This tune features the great Brazilian singer Elis Regina in a duet with Jobim. Respected jazz critic Leonard Feather sights this song as one of the greatest ever written. It is known among Latin American composers that Jobim called upon many of Brazil's talented poet laureate's for songwriting lessons. It was reported by Carlos Drummund de Andrade that "the author of "Waters of March" doesn't need any lessons from anybody." Other songs featured here are "Pra Dizer Adeus (To Say Goodbye)" and "Soneta De Separacao (Separation Sonnet)," which both display the texture and dexterity of Jobim's smooth, mellow piano playing. A tune that can really bring the listener to the air is "Samba Do Aviao (Song of the Jet)," which a marvelous orchestration opens up into a serenading flute solo in the midst of Jobim backing up on the guitar. By this point in the record, those who have not dipped their feet into the bossa scene until now will have a good sense of the meaning of the style's jumpy, uplifting rhythms. Renowned Latin singer Elis Regina puts together a moving piece with the artist in "Chovendo Na Roseira (Raining in the Rose Garden)." Perhaps the sleeper hit of the collection is Jobim's composition for a girl, "Luiza," quite a stunning love ballad. E Convidados is a rare collection of eloquently crafted songs in the highest degree of musicianship. This indelible combination of pizzazz and romance gives the listener a perfect image of the vitality of Jobim's ingenious work, which will forever be deemed timeless.