Bossa Nova

Bossa nova on vinyl: from Rio to New York

In short: Bossa nova emerged in Rio de Janeiro in the late fifties: samba rhythm, softly plucked guitar, breathy singing and jazzy harmonies. João Gilberto, Antônio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes created the sound, and in the early sixties American jazz musicians took it up with enthusiasm. The Vinyl Room currently has 85 bossa nova records.

What is bossa nova?

“Bossa nova” means something like “new way”. From 1962 it became a wave in the USA: Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd had a hit with “Jazz Samba”, and “Getz/Gilberto” followed in 1964. Numerous jazz musicians now recorded bossa nova – here Zoot Sims, Barney Kessel, Eddie Harris and Quincy Jones with his big band.

Back in the fifties guitarist Laurindo Almeida and saxophonist Bud Shank had already combined Brazil and jazz. From Brazil itself come Jorge Ben, Marcos Valle and Arthur Verocai, and from Denmark singer Birgit Lystager.

What to look for

Many sixties bossa nova records are US pressings, for example on Verve or Riverside; alongside them there are Brazilian editions and later reissues. What you get is noted with each copy.

From our stock

First pressings

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FAQ

What does bossa nova mean? Roughly “new way” – meaning a new, quiet way of playing samba.

Who invented bossa nova? Above all João Gilberto, Antônio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes in Rio de Janeiro in the late fifties.

How did bossa nova reach the USA? From 1962 with “Jazz Samba” by Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd, then in 1964 with “Getz/Gilberto”.

Is there bossa nova from Denmark? Yes – here from singer Birgit Lystager.