Here is something to think about – when this album was released, ‘Bossa Nova’ was an unknown term in the United States.

In 1961, guitarist Charlie Byrd toured South America as part of a U.S. diplomatic tour, and while in Brazil, he heard recordings by João Gilberto and Antonio Carlos Jobim that intrigued him enough to buy their music and bring it home. This casually simple, seemingly effortless act would eventually lead to an American obsession with Bossa Nova when he shared his discoveries with Stan Getz, who agreed to record an album based on the Brazilian rhythms.

This proved to be more difficult than it seemed, because American players lacked familiarity with the sound and had difficulty adapting to the complex moods and rhythms of Brazil. It took a few sessions to flesh it out properly, the best featuring two drummers playing simultaneously who captured the feel that became “Jazz Samba.” Byrd and Getz keep things loose, betraying their sense of novelty, and once Americans heard it, they felt the same way. The album was a surprise smash hit, reaching #1 on the pop chart and it lingered for a total of seventy weeks.

Featured Tracks:

Desafinado

Samba Dees Days

O Pato

Samba Triste

Samba de Uma Nota Só

É Luxo Só" 

Bahia (aka 'Baia') 

May 1962 - Billboard Charted #1