Originally released in March 1964, this collaboration between saxophonist Stan Getz and guitarist João Gilberto came at seemingly the end of the bossa nova craze Getz himself had sparked in 1962 with Jazz Samba, his release with American guitarist Charlie Byrd. Jazz Samba remains the only jazz album to reach number one in the pop charts. In fact, the story goes that Getz had to push for the release of Getz/Gilberto since the company did not want to compete with its own hit; it was a good thing he did. Getz/Gilberto, which featured composer Antonio Carlos Jobim on piano, not only yielded the hit "Girl from Ipanema" (sung by Astrud Gilberto, the guitarist's wife, who had no professional experience) but also "Corcovado" ("Quiet Night")--an instant standard, and the definitive version of "Desafinado." Getz/Gilberto spent 96 weeks in the charts and won four Grammys. It remains one of those rare cases in popular music where commercial success matches artistic merit. Bossa nova's "cool" aesthetic--with its understated rhythms, rich harmonies, and slightly detached delivery--had been influenced, in part, by cool jazz. Gilberto in particular was a Stan Getz fan. Getz, with his lyricism, the bittersweet longing in his sound, and his restrained but strong swing, was the perfect fit. His lines, at once decisive and evanescent, focus the rest of the group's performance without overpowering. A classic. --Fernando Gonzalez

Customer Rating:
Summary: Landmark bossa nova
Comment: I discovered Astrud Gilberto quite by accident when rummaging thru my sister's extensive jazz album collection...

Really wanted to hear her defintive interpretations of 'Corcovado' (after being captivated by EBTG's brilliant drum 'n bass remake) and the seminal standard 'The Girl From Ipanema', and am really enjoying this album.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Fall in love with Getz/Gilberto
Comment: I bought the Getz/Gilberto cd and loved the collection. It is beautiful and romantic. I won't get tired playing this all over again. Getz' saxophone expertise adds a more romantic feel to the music. You would love to dance with the one you love.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Another Amazing Must Have Amazon Daily Special
Comment: Paying $3.99 for a jazz masterpiece that you don't own is a gift. Grab it!

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Just Take a Listen...
Comment: Stan Getz, Joao Gilberto, Jobim, and others worked together and created a landmark in jazz and bossa nova, but that's not the reason you should listen to it. You should listen to this record because it's a great, beautiful slice of bossa nova. I don't know much about the genre, but genre matters not. This is great jazz, and they don't em' like this any more.

The playing on this record is ace, melancholy, moody, swinging. Joao plays some really good guitar, smooth, lovely, exotic, and melodic, and Getz swings and sings with the saxophone. While the lyrics by Jobim are in a different language, the music is pretty universal, and with Jobim's wife singing in English, you pretty much know what the songs are about. The rhythm section is very relaxing, and very smooth, pretty much what is demanded in an album such as this. This album of Bossa Nova is very different from what most people think when they of South American type of music (the latin stereotype probably defined by Santana).

The album is rather short, but that matters not, as there are no weak or average tracks on here. Even if you don't pay much attention, the album's mood and magic are obvious even if it doesn't require your undivided attention. The tracks that transcend merely good are excellent. The jazz standard, The Girl From Ipanpaneamsfl (AHHH!!!!!. What? I don't want to look it up, you know exactly what track I am talking about), has a great mood, and you can feel what the man is going through, the thing that crossed my mind was "______ look at him you ________! COME ON!" So Danco Samba is the most upbeat song on here, the name says it all. Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars and the third track with the long as _____ name, and the second track are more standouts. It also has one of my favorite love songs, Desafindo.

Oh, excuse me if I make a lot of mistakes on naming the songs off the top of my head, because the songs are extremely long and pretty much in a language I don't understand.

This album is just something that demands to be listened to, and that's the only thing that will do it justice, as many words just don't the sound justice. The two bonus tracks are just excuses for listening to two of the songs over again, and that's perfectly fine. While a bit overrated, give it a listen. No, scratch that, get lost in it, well, for me, records aren't merely a casual listen. Great together with Jazz Samba.

8/10

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Music!
Comment: Wonderful and relaxing music. Very soft, wonderful sound tracks. There are two soundtracks of "The Girl From Ipanema," with the first being the ultimate recording. I would highly recommend this CD for anyone who enjoys cool jazz or any relaxing International-style music.

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