Astrud Gilberto: Great Women of Song [VERVE]

Why you'll love it

This Verve compilation in the Great Women of Song series collects 14 of her finest bossa nova recordings. "The Girl From Ipanema" won a Grammy in 1965 and made her a star around the world.

This edition

• Great Women of Song series
• Stereo mix

About the album

Astrud Gilberto never set out to be the voice of a movement. Born in Salvador, Bahia, and raised in Rio, she fell in with the young bohemians of the late-1950s bossa nova scene, married guitarist João Gilberto, and was invited to sing a verse in English when he recorded with Stan Getz. That verse was "The Girl From Ipanema," and the cool, unhurried delivery that made it a hit stayed with her for a 30-year career.

This collection follows her through the Verve years. Antônio Carlos Jobim's songs are the backbone ("Corcovado (Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars)," "How Insensitive," "Água De Beber" and "Once I Loved"), joined by Marcos Valle's "So Nice (Summer Samba)" and Luiz Bonfá's "Manhã De Carnaval." She brings the same light touch to American standards, with "Fly Me To The Moon," "It Might As Well Be Spring" and "The Shadow Of Your Smile," and "Berimbau" and "(Take Me To) Aruanda" add a little more swing. Fluent in several languages from childhood, she moves between Portuguese and English as if there were no border at all.

Fans called her the Queen of Bossa Nova, and she was especially loved in Japan. Put this on in a Toronto February and the room feels about five degrees warmer, which we consider a public service.

Also at Kops: more Astrud Gilberto on vinyl · browse World

Tracklist

Listen

On Verve (cat# 558854 6).