by Astrud Gilberto, Joao Gilberto, Stan Getz List Price:$18.00 Our Price:$13.00 Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Product Details
Media: Audio CD
Release Date: Tuesday, May 20, 1997
Label: Polygram Records
Average Customer Review: 0 Based on 0 reviews.
Sales Rank: 370
Tracks
1.
Corcovado (Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars) [45 Version] [*]
2.
Girl from Ipanema [45 Version] [*]
3.
Vivo Sonhando (Dreamer)
4.
O Grande Amor
5.
So Danço Samba (I Only Dance Samba)
6.
Corcovado (Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars)
7.
Desafinado
8.
Para Machuchar Meu Coração (To Hurt My Heart)
9.
Doralice
10.
Girl from Ipanema
11.
Para Machuchar Meu Coratpo (To Hurt My Heart)
12.
So Danto Samba (I Only Dance Samba)
Editorial Review
Originally released in March 1964, this collaboration between saxophonist Stan Getz and guitarist João Gilberto came at seemingly the end of the bossa nova craze Getz himself had sparked in 1962 with Jazz Samba, his release with American guitarist Charlie Byrd. Jazz Samba remains the only jazz album to reach number one in the pop charts. In fact, the story goes that Getz had to push for the release of Getz/Gilberto since the company did not want to compete with its own hit; it was a good thing he did. Getz/Gilberto, which featured composer Antonio Carlos Jobim on piano, not only yielded the hit "Girl from Ipanema" (sung by Astrud Gilberto, the guitarist's wife, who had no professional experience) but also "Corcovado" ("Quiet Night")--an instant standard, and the definitive version of "Desafinado." Getz/Gilberto spent 96 weeks in the charts and won four Grammys. It remains one of those rare cases in popular music where commercial success matches artistic merit. Bossa nova's "cool" aesthetic--with its understated rhythms, rich harmonies, and slightly detached delivery--had been influenced, in part, by cool jazz. Gilberto in particular was a Stan Getz fan. Getz, with his lyricism, the bittersweet longing in his sound, and his restrained but strong swing, was the perfect fit. His lines, at once decisive and evanescent, focus the rest of the group's performance without overpowering. A classic. --Fernando Gonzalez
Top Customer Reviews
Rating:
3 From the perspective of a João Gilberto fan...
First of all, I must say that this album is not all that bad. The songs are all good, though you need to understand Portuguese to really appreciate them. But having listened to a large chunk of João Gilberto's recorded output (and no Stan Getz beyond this album), this is a disappointing album.It's got to be one of the most overrated albums in music history. Essentially, it boils down to Stan Getz using "exotic" music he does not understand as a background to long loud solos that don't fit it. If you listen to the Gilberto's original Bossa Nova recordings (sadly, currently out of print) and compare them to this album, you can't fail to be struck by how the former were very much about rhythm and songcraft, not about masturbatory improvisational soloing as this album is. The instrumentation and orchestration in those albums is all put in service of the song, and the songwriting is superb.The songcraft, however, is sadly lost for the overwhelmingly English-speaking audience of this album because (a) they don't speak Portuguese (or, Spanish, for that matter), (b) the "translations" of "A Garota de Ipanema" and "Corcovado" are DREADFUL, (c) Stan Getz is too interested in the limelight to lay his musical ego aside and put the song first. In short, this album suffers from a terrible clash between the sensibilities of its two namesakes; and the Anglophone audience that endlessly lauds it does not even realize it.When you add the fact that Getz made an order of magnitude more money off this album than everybody else on it (hell, Astrud Gilberto reportedly made a grand total of $120 for a night of work), the above comments take on a more disquieting significance: here we have yet another case of a powerful first-world musician exploiting "exotic" musicians to market himself to an Anglophone audience, while never really caring to understand the music involved. Thus the real underlying theme of this album: the power assymetries between the US and the rest of the world.All that might be excused if João Gilberto sou
Rating:
5 The essence of bossa nova.
If I were given a choice of just one CD to take with me in the after-life, I would choose Getz/Gilberto. This album is a rare gem of a recording. And what incredible music it contains! I first heard this album in the early 70's. Back then, I already knew how to play the acoustic guitar. However, hearing João Gilberto's play the guitar changed my style, and indeed, my musical direction altogether. More than twenty years later, I still play those wonderful chords that João had imprinted on my musical psyche. With the exception of Para Machucar Meu Coraçao and Doralice, all the songs were written by Antonio Carlos Jobim. Astrud Gilberto's unpretentious singing of The Girl From Ipanema and Corcovado is a fine example of sincerity in musical expression. She sings both songs in English. João Gilberto's authoritative singing of the other songs in Portuguese remains to this day, the essence of bossa nova. His phrasing on Desafinado is delicate. On So Danço Samba, his guitar-playing is simply marvelous. Stan Getz's superb solos bring each song to musical heights. Listen to his closing notes on O Grande Amor. Don't they tear right into your soul? The unassuming Jobim plays a brief but beautiful piano solo on The Girl From Ipanema. Tommy Williams (bass) and Milton Banana (drums) provide the steady rhythm that gives this album its eternal life. The performance is simply incredible.The sound quality on this 20-bit remastered edition is even more brilliant than the original CD reissue. Moreover, the fading notes on some of the selections have been extended, thus prolonging the listening pleasure just a bit more. This CD proves that music is indeed a universal language. You don't need to know Portuguese to understand, let alone, appreciate this album. All you need is the ability to admire beauty, and this CD has plenty to offer
Rating:
5 One thing to say---
I do not know a word of Portugese, but I can sing "The Girl From Impanema" by heart -- in Portugese. That's how many times I've played this album.If you can and have the means to play it, get this in its original LP format. But the CD is most excellent as well, and if you haven't ever heard it, I encourage you to buy it right now; you won't be disappointed.
Rating:
5 the best
How many albums can boast a line-up as amazing as Getz, Gilberto (both Joao and Astrud), and Jobim? Add in the fact that EVERY song is a keeper, and you have a truly amazing set. Stan Getz, possessor of the most beautiful tone in jazz (sorry, Johnny Hodges), is hard to top. His playing evokes several emotions while staying true to the music at all times. Joao Gilberto's guitar playing and singing were extremely influential, and his wife became a star with her effortless vocals on "Girl from Ipanema" and "Corcovado." Jobim's sparse piano enhances the atmosphere of the album, and Tommy Williams and Milton Banana provide flawless rhythmic support. How can you NOT love this album? Highly recommended to all music lovers.
Rating:
5 Updated Review
To date, this review has been helpful 26 of 27 times.A college friend recommended this album to me. He said he didn't think I would go wrong with it, that it was pretty good. I had no idea what it was, or who Jobim, Getz, or Gilberto were, but I figured his recommendation was as good as the reviews I read on the backs of the album covers for music I had never heard, so I bought it. That was over 30 years ago and I still listen regularly to this "Getz/Gilberto" album......I don't understand a word of the Portuguese but the music is as fresh today as it was back then. It continues to touch my soul and smooth me (especially after a day with lots of rough edges), it lifts me, it soothes me and bathes me in warmth and hope. It is light, whimsical, deep, and beautifully balanced rhythmically. Thank God for CD's; the old vinyl disc was worn so badly. I listen and I want the music to go on forever; and for me, so far, it has. "Quiet nights of quiet stars, quiet chords from my guitars, floating on the silence that surrounds us, quiet thoughts and quiet dreams, quiet walks by quiet streams,and the window that looks out on Corcovado..." This music brings me ageless pleasure, and...as we (the music and I) recede farther and farther from 1963, its velvety chords just getter better and better."Oh, how lovely . . . "
Rating:
5 Tall and tan and young and lonely...
The 1964 winner for Best Album was this mellow but spright cool jazz album that pushed Latin bossa nova and samba rhythms on the map. With a lineup that included Joao Gilberto on guitar and vocals, Antonio Carlos Jobim on piano, Tommy Williams on bass, Milton Banana on drums, and on the two most memorable songs, Joao's wife Astrud. However, the driving force behind this was tenor saxophonist Stan Getz, and his straight-tone, controlled-vibrato sound.The album starts appropriately enough with the Grammy winner for best song, "The Girl From Ipanema". This is the full 5:22 version that begins with Joao Gilberto singing in Portuguese. Then comes that soft voice and those familiar lyrics: "Tall and tan and young and lonely/The girl from Ipanema goes walking/And when she passes/Each one she passes goes haaa." Well, the thing that makes me go "haaa" here is Astrud Gilberto's voice. Getz's sax solo and Jobim's piano in the middle serves as a bridge between the two refrains. There is a 45 rpm version of this classic, the 2:46 single edit of just Astrud singing, included later. I must confess that I first heard a parody of this song, Bob River's "The Girl With Emphysema", and then sought hard to find out the original version, which led me to this album."Corcovado (Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars)" is the other song featuring Astrud Gilberto. In the full 4:14 version, we have Joao doing Portuguese lyrics, as he did in the full version of "Ipanema." There is a dreamy quality about this song, particularly when Astrud sings "Quiet nights and quiet dreams/Quiet walks by quiet streams/And the window lookin' on the mountains and the sea how lovely." And Getz's sax really enhances that exoticness as does Jobim's piano. BTW, Corcovado is the name of a mountain overlooking Rio de Janeiro. There is a 2:21 45 rpm issue included here as well.As for the rest of the songs, Getz's rich saxophone provides the rich qualities that make this a winner, particularly his solo on "So Danso Samba" with its "vai vai vai vai vai" refrain by Joao Gilberto. The song title means "I Only Dance Samba", as opposed to calypso, the twist, and the cha-cha that were sweeping the country's dance floors in the 1960's. And Joao Gilberto's soft vocals complement the soft qualities of the other instrumentalists. Only complaint: Astrud should've been featured on more songs.
Rating:
5 Masterpiece
This is such a terrific CD. It was a break trough in 1964 when it was released introducing Bossa Nova to world audiences. Every Grammy it received like best album and best song for The Girl From Ipanema was well deserved.It's hard to say which performance is more impressive. Would it be the marvelous Tom Jobim composition? Or the whispering Joao Gilberto's voice accompanying his wonderful guitar cords? Would it be the melodic Stan Getz sax solos. Or the soft almost childish Astrud Gilberto's voice? Probably the combination of all.Every track is special but my favorites are Corcovado and Doralice. Doralice has the most beautiful saxophone solo I ever heard however, for some strange reason, the song is almost unknown even in Brazil.Most of the lyrics are in Portuguese but The Girl From Ipanema and the beginning of Corcovado are sung in English by Astrud but this shouldn't be an obstacle for the appreciation of this masterpiece. With under 40 minutes of total play time and two very similar releases of The Girl From Ipanema and Corcovado it might seem not too much bang for your buck but believe me it pays off.
Rating:
5 THE Best Bossa Nova Album
Have owned two vinyl copies of this album. Wore out the first copy. Will probably buy the CD. I can't add too much to the previous reviews but let me add two words, 'Timeless & Elegant.'
Rating:
5 Ageless pleasure
A college friend recommended this album to me once while shopping for some new music. He told me he didn't think I would go wrong with it, that it was pretty good. I had no idea what it was or who Jobim, Getz, or Gilberto were at the time but I figured his recommendation was as good as the reviews I read on the backs of the album covers for music I had never heard, so I bought it. That was over 30 years ago and I still listen regularly to this "Getz/Gilberto" album......I don't understand a word of the Portuguese but the music is as fresh today as it was back then. It continues to touch my soul and smooth me (especially after a day with lots of rough edges), it lifts me, it soothes me and bathes me in warmth and hope...it is light, whimsical, deep, and so...very...rhythmically balanced. Thank God for CD's, the old vinyl disc was worn so badly..... I listen and I want the music to go on forever...and for me, so far, it has....."Quiet nights of quiet stars! , quiet chords from my guitars, floating on the silence that surrounds us, quiet thoughts and quiet dreams, quiet walks by quiet streams,and the window that looks out on Corcovado.." This music brings me ageless pleasure, and...as we (the music and I) recede farther and farther from 1963, its velvety chords just getter better and better........"Oh, how lovely".......
Rating:
5 Gently drifting in a blue lagoon
I have been noticing lately a series of CDs modestly entitled "Now THAT's What I Call Music!" ...Oh, REALLY? Who wrote those words- a tone-deaf 13-year old? No, thank you. I don't consider The Hit Parade of Hell "good music". Now what I call good muisc is "Getz/Gilberto", the now-legendary album recorded in the early 1960s, which introduced "The Girl From Ipanema" to the world at large. "Girl" became a near-joke when everyone short of the Ayatollah Khomeini covered it, but that's what happens when something is so overwhelmingly popular. "Getz/Gilberto" is a gem-it transports the listener to another place (where the place is is the listener's option)-whether it's a quiet beach, a blue lagoon, another planet, what have you. There are REAL musicians playing REAL instruments, and REAL people singing. And while Astrud Gilberto's singing is sometimes flat, it's still REAL. This is music with soul, emotion, and introspection. It's for ADULTS. And this remastering of an already beautiful album is what I call "good music!" If you already own this CD, you are not disappointed. If you don't own it, what are you waiting for? Hop on the Bossa Nova boat to paradise!
