Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Stan Getz - Big Band Bossa Nova (1962)

This is one out of a series of albums available at "A Bossa Nova Internacional" section of Caetano's Bossa Nova e Outras Bossas book released by Verve with this cover artwork, all designed by Olga Albizu. Most of these albums were very important on introducing Bossa Nova to American audience and we will start to show by this first one sent by Caetano Rodrigues with Stan Getz on Bossa Nova standards arranged by Gary McFarland.

This is Stan Getz - Big Band Bossa Nova (1962), for Verve, with arrangements and conduction by Gary McFarland. This amazing set was recorded only in two days, August 27 and 28, 1962. AMG should make better than zeca on Big Band Bossa Nova review with highlights on Gary McFarland participation, as follows: "Fresh from the sudden success of Jazz Samba and "Desafinado," Stan Getz asked the 28-year-old, strikingly gifted Gary McFarland to arrange a bossa nova album for big band as a follow-up. Getz is always his debonair, wistful, freely-floating self, completely at home in the Brazilian idiom that he'd adopted only a few months before. McFarland usually keeps things nice and spare (although "One Note Samba" is uncharacteristically cluttered and a bit too discordant for the material), letting his pungent voicings stab the air now and then, while allowing the soloists all the room they want within the confines of producer Creed Taylor's tight timings. Four of the eight songs are by McFarland (none of which would become standards), and Getz makes relaxed impressions with "Manha de Carnival" and "Chega de Saudade." Jim Hall takes the role of acoustic guitarist from Charlie Byrd with his usual fluidity, and Hank Jones ruminates in a boppish way on piano. This album also charted quite respectably (number 13) in the first flush of the bossa nova boom." Tracks include:

01 - Manha de Carnaval
02 - Balanco no Samba
03 - Melancolico
04 - Entre Amigos
05 - Chega de Saudade
06 - Noite Triste
07 - Samba de uma Nota So
08 - Bim Bom

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