The bossa nova fever rages on

The first Coffee & Bossa album released was The Chillout Sound of Astrud Gilberto. This re-introduced the music of the true blue bossa nova star to this bossa nova crazy land. Astrud was the voice in The Girl from Ipanema. Now there is a second Coffee & Bossa album in what has now become a series. This is The Chillout Sound of Antonio Carlos Jobim. If you thought that Astrud was the ultimate in bossa nova music, be ready now to change your mind because Jobim goes further than that. He is the acknowledged Father of Bossa Nova.

Jobim was one of several musicians in Brazil who experimented with a light variation to the samba, that they dubbed the bossa nova in the late ‘50s. Bossa means step while nova means new. Though Latin in rhythm it had a wistful, pained quality that made it unique. Jobim, a composer, singer and pianist, was its best interpreter. He brought the sound to the US and soon after the world and Astrud of the sweet, delicate vocals was the top interpreter of his compositions.

So, all you bossa nova fans out there who honestly want to know more about the music, the contents of Coffee & Bossa, which were all composed by Jobim, is the real thing. His hits are all here and it is having these together in one album that makes you realize the massive contribution Jobim made to modern music. Now, Jobim might have recorded the cuts elsewhere but the music in the album traces itself back to the early ‘60s in Brazil and is every bit as authentic as can be. Jobim himself performs most of the songs with Astrud as guest.

Included are Dindi, Aguas de Marco, Wave, Samba de Uma Nota, So Danco Samba, Agua de Beber, Tide, Desafinado, The Girl from Ipanema, Corcovado (Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars), Insensatez (How Insensitive), Ana Luiza, Amor Em Paz (Once I Loved), Para Maruchar Meu Coracao (To Hurt My Heart), Passarim (Little Bird), Meditation, Looks Like December, Borzeguim, So Tinha De Ser Com Voce (It Could Only Be for You), Chega de Saudade (No More Blues), Viva Sohando (Dreamer), Triste (Sadness), Fascinating Rhythm and an English version of Waters of March.

More bossa nova news from the local front. Now, the VST & Co. Bossa Nova Collection was a success so can you blame the enterprising people at Vicor for coming up with another one? Of course not. Although I dread to think, it might happen anytime soon, they did not turn the Hagibis hits with titles like Katawan and Legs! Legs! into bossa nova. They chose instead the music of Cinderella, one of the most successful of the Manila Sound bands that had for its soloist, the late Yolly Samson. I must say that, as with what happened to the songs of VST& Co. Cinderella also easily lent itself to the Latin beat.

Many of you doubtless remember these titles from the late ‘70s recorded in Yolly’s breathy little girl voice. T.L. Ako Sa ‘yo, Ang Boyfriend Kong Baduy, Bato Sa Buhangin, Sa Aking Pag-iisa, Superstar ng Buhay Ko, Tulak ng Bibig Kabig ng Dibdib, Ang Boypren Ko, May Crush Ako Sa ‘yo, Nakikinig ang Buong Pilipinas, Pag-ibig Ko’y Ibang-iba, Ligaw Tingin, Ikaw ang Idol Ko and Paano Pa Kita Malilimutan.

And because this season of the bossa nova coincides with this year’s Christmas Season, do not be surprised to find a Christmas Bossa Nova Collection album in the stores. But surprisingly, this album does not contain the obvious choices if you are putting together a Christmas CD with a Latin touch. Those are the Mexican imports Felice Navidad and Mamacita Donde Esta Santa Claus, which are the only Latin-flavored Christmas songs I know.

What the Christmas Bossa Nova Collection album has are Merry Christmas Darling, Little Christmas Tree, White Christmas, Winter Wonderland, The Christmas Song, Jingle Bells, You’re All I Want for Christmas, I’ll be Home for Christmas, The First Noel, What Can I Give You This Christmas, My Grown Up Christmas List, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, We Wish You a Merry Christmas and would you believe even Auld Lang Syne.

Can’t imagine how these songs sound with a bossa nova beat? Get the answer by getting a copy of the album.