About

Recorded in 1963, The Composer of Desafinado Plays documents the beginning of what would become a long-term creative relationship between Jobim and arranger Claus Ogerman. Although there was initial resistance by producers, Jobim not only plays guitar but piano as well in his debut for Verve. Jobim is joined by George Duvivier (bass), Edison Machado (drums), Leo Wright (flute), Jimmy Cleveland (trombone) and full strings on the 12-song instrumental set that features such bossa nova classics as “Corcovado,” “The Girl from Ipanema,” “Agua de Beber” and more.

The Verve Vault series is always mastered from analog tapes and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal. — (via Label)

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In his first American album, Antonio Carlos Jobim presents a dozen of his songs, each one destined to become a standard — an astounding batting average. Jobim, who claimed to have been out of practice at the time of the session, merely plays single notes on the piano with one hand, punctuated by chords now and then, sticking to his long, undulating melodies with a few passages of jazz improvisation now and then. Yet it is a lovely idea, not a gesture is wasted.

Arranger Claus Ogerman unveils many of the trademarks that would define his Creed Taylor-produced albums with Jobim — the soaring, dying solo flute and spare, brooding unison string lines widening into lush harmony; flutes doubling on top of Jobim’s piano chords — again with an exquisitely spare touch.
The songs include "Desafinado", "Corcovado", "Chega de Saudade" (No More Blues), "The Girl From Ipanema", "Meditation", "One Note Samba", and half-a-dozen others (every one of which is included on The Man From Ipanema set). — (via All Music)

Vinyl Tracklist
A1 The Girl From Ipanema
A2 O Morro (Amor Em Paz)
A3 Agua De Beber
A4 Dreamer (Vivo Sonhando)
A5 Favela (O Morro Não Tem Vez)
A6 Insensatez
B1 Corcovado
B2 One Note Samba
B3 Meditation
B4 Jazz Samba (Só Danço Samba) (From The Film "Copacabana Palace")
B5 Chega De Saudade
B6 Desafinado

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Label: Verve Records
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, 180gr, Gatefold
Reissued: 2025 / Originally Released: 1963
Genre: Jazz, Latin
Style: Bossa Nova

File under: Audiophile Jazz
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