Soothing and sensual, steeped in tropical atmosphere, bossa nova (Portuguese for “new trend”) is a Brazilian musical style which evolved from another South American musical tradition, the samba.

The dawn of the bossa nova can be traced to Elizete Cardoso’s 1958 recording of lyricist Vinícius de Moraes and multi-talented composer Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “Chega de Saudade.” Although Elizete Cardoso’s rendering went unnoticed, João Gilberto’s subsequent record became a hit, creating the bossa nova craze. An English-language translation of the song has been recorded by both jazz and rock artists under the title “No More Blues,” though it can also be translated as “enough longing.” “Chega” stands for “no more,” and “saudade” means an acute, heartfelt desire.

Americans are likely to be familiar with the Stan Getz/João Gilberto single “The Girl from Ipanema” (edited to highlight Astrud Gilberto’s vocals), but Antônio Carlos Jobim, Vinicius de Moraes, and João Gilberto are regarded as the most important figures in popularizing the bossa nova sound.

The movie “Black Orpheus” (1959) added to the popularity of bossa nova, while American jazz musicians traveling to Brazil took the bossa nova back to North America. Dusty Springfield’s breathy 1967 recording of Bacharach and David’s “The Look of Love” (featured in the movie “Casino Royale”) remains one of the most respected North American pop interpretations of bossa nova.

For a recommended introduction, pick up the 2003 compilation CD, “Bossa Nova for Lovers” (Verve).

Bossa nova music instruments include nylon string guitar, piano, vocals, and Brazilian musical instruments such as the tamborim (a small wooden drum of African origin)

By 1963, the bossa nova movement had ended, but the music’s influence lingered. In the late 60s, the Brazilian rock group Os Mutantes incorporated bossa nova with psychedelia, and Italian soundtrack composers such as Piero Umiliani, Stelvio Cipriani and Piero Piccioni formulated a typical Mediterranean version, newly compiled on the CDs “Bossa Galore” (Cinevox) and “Morricone Bossa” (Cinedelic). Bossa nova enjoyed a revival in the 1990s, and today performers as diverse as Bebel Gilberto (daughter of João Gilberto and singer Miúcha), Koop, Nouvelle Vague, Stereolab, and Diana Krall have assimilated bossa nova into their work.

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