Saturday, May 10, 2008

Ah, por que estou tão sozinho?



Strangely we seem to be at a Christmas ski-lodge swimsuit party in this clip, but hey! nothing can stop me wanting to play this loveliest, oldest and famousest Brazilian pop song (written by the great Antonio Carlos Jobim) in my current mood.

You know, it really doesn't matter how many cheesy marimba/rubbishy Hammond, easy-listening, shopping mall muzak or elevator chop-up versions of this I hear, I will always love that interplay of Joao, Astrud and Stan on the definitive recording.

Yet maybe you are beginning to tire of even that loveliness through over-familiarity; and if so, may I offer the original cast's 1964 'in concert' take from Carnegie Hall as a way of helping you hear it all afresh (again)?

From the way Getz holds back on his entrance (fnaar) to allow for Astrud's applause then turns it into a new little riff, through the slightly off timing and duff vocal mic'ing in parts (louder with Astrud's second verse than her first) it all speaks rough and live, and of course it's those little imperfections that make me love it even more. *sigh*

Stan Getz (with Joao & Astrud Gilberto) - 'The Girl From Ipanema' (live at Carnegie Hall) (1964)
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6 comments:

  1. MondoMay 12, 2008 11:08 am

    This track was my way in to Jazz - followed by the 'Getz/Gilberto' and 'Jazz Samba' albums (featuring the incredible Charlie Byrd).

    Have you tried the Blue Note comps?

    Blue Brazil

    or
    The Antonio Carlos Jobim Songbook which is well worth grabbing

    As is this (yes, really)

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  2. davyhMay 12, 2008 11:56 am

    I have a lot of Mr Jobim and a fair bit of Our Stan, including a nice LP with the Brazilian guitarist Laurindo Almeida - one of those vinyl purchases from Ray's Jazz I've wittered on about here previously . 'Sweet Rain' is an old favourite too...

    I'll respect your word on that Bach thing though I usually find all that jazz-does-classical mallarkey (Jacques Louissier and all) unbearable!!

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  3. MondoMay 12, 2008 1:17 pm

    Actually - having recommended it I haven't actually played it for several years - so may be a bit ropier than I recall.

    this is well worth a wallop though

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  4. ally.May 13, 2008 9:11 am

    there's a proper word for that kind of flat singing she does but i can't remember it. i'd forget my head if it wasn't screwed on.
    and if anyone recommends bossa bob marley there'll be tears
    x

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  5. davyhMay 13, 2008 9:01 pm

    Another rubbish singer who wouldn't have made it through X Factor 'boot camp eh? Tcch.

    Yes, I saw that Bossa Bob Marley on Mondo's link too - noooooohhh!!!!

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  6. ally.May 13, 2008 10:06 pm

    desafinado.
    i knew there was a word for it - there's a song too.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desafinado

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