Artist: Jon Hendricks
Album: Salud! João Gilberto Originator of the Bossa Nova
Label: Reprise Records
Year Of Release: 1963
Format: FLAC (image+.cue)
Tracklist:
1. Duck (O Pato)
2. Quiet Nights (Corcovado)
3. You and I (Voce E Eu)
4. Love in Peace (O Amor Em Paz)
5. Little Paper Ball [Bolinha de Papel]
6. Longing for Bahia
7. Little Train of Iron [Bolinha de Papel]
8. No More Blues (Chega de Saudade)
9. Rosa Morena
10. Most Beautiful Thing (Coisa Mais Linda)
11. Samba of My Land (Samba da Minha Terra)
12. Once Again (Outra Vez)
13. Jive Samba
Jon Hendricks idolizes João Gilberto — he has spoken fondly of their first meeting where they scatted to each other before ever speaking a word — and he wasted little time putting together a tribute album at the height of the first bossa nova wave. It ought to come as no surprise that he would display total sympathy with the bossa nova manner here, singing softly and smoothly — and Hendricks’ English wordplay is quite faithful to the original tunes and meanings of the Portuguese lyrics, in contrast to his usual whimsical work with jazz improvisations. Hendricks is particularly winning, and irresistibly swinging on the rare occasions (“Voce E Eu,” “Samba Da Minha Terra”) when he scats to the Brazilian rhythm; he should have done more of that here. But then, his versions of Gilberto’s repertoire are carefully based on Gilberto’s early EMI/Odeon recordings (now available on The Legendary João Gilberto); even Antonio Carlos Jobim’s string and wind charts for the originals are preserved by adapter Johnny Mandel. Alas, the only Hendricks lyric that has become a universal standard is Jobim’s “Chega de Saudade” (“No More Blues”). As Hendricks’ only album-length encounter with bossa nova, Salud! João Gilberto Originator of the Bossa Nova is essential.
Review by Richard S. Ginell
