Joao Gilberto – Amoroso (LP, Speakers Corner)

When this album hit the turntables in 1977, Joao Gilberto, the Nestor and godfather of Bossa Nova, was already enjoying legendary recognition for his life’s work, which was still far from complete. His straightforward, at times dry and scratchy, mezzo-piano vocals resonate unmistakably, defining his very own brand of Latin jazz with an intercontinental reach. With “Wave,” “Triste,” “Caminhos Cruzados,” and “Zingaro,” he combines four brilliant tracks by his congenial compatriot Antonio Carlos Jobim on this LP. The universality of Gilberto’s bossa blends is demonstrated by Gershwin’s hit “S Wonderful,” which he completely reinterprets. Instead of the roaring original, he creates a unique new version of the musical classic, refreshingly free of dynamic effects and filled with alert declamation. The question of whether the tried-and-tested set of guitar and subtly crafting rhythm section would have been able to function without the lush string sound is answered by a careful listen: Claus Ogerman’s arrangements are less colorful props than a carefully woven interplay of inner and counter-voices. A select team of instrumentalists is at work here, carrying the melancholic mood of this music at their fingertips. Joao Gilberto (g, voc); Claus Ogerman (cond, arr); Bud Shank (fl); Milcho Leviev, Michael Boddicker (synth); Ralph Grierson (keyboard); Jim Hughart (bass); Grady Tate, Joe Correro (drums); Paulinho Da Costa (percussion) & strings