Tributo à Bossa Nova

by Philip JandovskýTributo à Bossa Nova, of course, means "Tribute to Bossa Nova," and that is exactly what this album is all about. Toquinho, himself one of the masters and pioneers of the genre, here interprets compositions by other great bossa nova artists like Tom Jobim, Marcos Valle, and Vinicius de Moraes. The sparse instrumentation, Toquinho's calm voice, and the inherent gentleness of the bossa nova compositions create a very intimate atmosphere. There are 15 songs in total on the album, practically all of them well known and lovely gems like "Garota de Ipanema," "Minha Namorada," "Samba de Verão," "Meditacão," and "Eu Sei Que Vou Te Amar," surely one of the most beautiful love songs ever written. There is nothing "new" or surprising about Toquinho's work here, but that matters little as the presentation is very classy, warm, gentle, and passionate. By all means, Tributo à Bossa Nova is an excellent album, sure to please any listener fond of the Brazilian bossa nova tradition.