Rio de Janeiro, 1958 to now

Bossa nova through the years

Bossa nova is a Brazilian song style, and the records here run from one voice with a guitar to big bands, strings and jazz trios. It starts on record in 1958, when Elizeth Cardoso and João Gilberto each record Chega de Saudade, written by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Vinícius de Moraes, and by the early 1960s American jazz players and singers are recording the songs too. Each decade below tells part of that story through records of the songs listed after it, and every song has its own page for listening.

Through the years

1930s
Ary Barroso writes Aquarela do Brasil in 1939. Francisco Alves records it that August with Radamés Gnattali's orchestra for Odeon, and the song fills both sides of one 78 rpm record. It is the earliest record on this page.
Francisco Alves com Radamés e sua Orquestra Aquarela do Brasil · 1939
1940s
In July 1942 Jimmy Dorsey's orchestra records Aquarela do Brasil in New York with English words by Bob Russell, sung by Bob Eberly and Helen O'Connell. The song also appears that year in Disney's film Saludos Amigos.
Jimmy Dorsey Aquarela do Brasil · 1942
1950s
Bossa nova begins on record in 1958. Elizeth Cardoso records Chega de Saudade in April with João Gilberto on guitar and an arrangement by Jobim, and Gilberto's own recording in July comes out as a single, becomes a hit and helps establish the style. In 1959 the film Black Orpheus, with songs by Luiz Bonfá and by Jobim and Vinícius de Moraes, wins the Palme d'Or at Cannes.
Django Reinhardt et ses Rythmes Aquarela do Brasil · 1953 Wes Montgomery Aquarela do Brasil · 1956 Frank Sinatra Aquarela do Brasil · 1957 Elizeth Cardoso Chega de Saudade · 1958 João Gilberto Chega de Saudade · 1958 João Gilberto Desafinado · 1958 Agostinho dos Santos A Felicidade · 1959 Sylvia Telles Dindi · 1959
2 more
Carlos José Recado Bossa Nova · 1959 Luiz Bonfá Samba de Orfeu · 1959
1960s
Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd's 1962 record of Desafinado, made in a Washington church, becomes a major hit and helps start the craze in the United States. Jazz players from groups to big bands also record the tunes from Black Orpheus. The 1963 album Getz makes with João Gilberto and Jobim, released in 1964, carries bossa nova around the world, and by 1967 Frank Sinatra is recording a whole album with Jobim.
João Gilberto Corcovado · 1960 João Gilberto Meditation · 1960 Mário Reis O Grande Amor · 1960 Wayne Shorter Black Orpheus · 1961 Maysa O Barquinho · 1961 João Gilberto O Barquinho · 1961 João Gilberto Once I Loved · 1961 Rocky Boyd Quintet with Kenny Dorham Samba de Orfeu · 1961
109 more
Vince Guaraldi Trio A Felicidade · 1962 Leo Wright A Felicidade · 1962 Maysa Água de Beber · 1962 Luiz Bonfá Black Orpheus · 1962 Vince Guaraldi Trio Black Orpheus · 1962 Stan Getz with the Gary McFarland Orchestra Black Orpheus · 1962 Dizzy Gillespie Chega de Saudade · 1962 Stan Getz with the Gary McFarland Orchestra Chega de Saudade · 1962 Miles Davis with Gil Evans Corcovado · 1962 Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd Desafinado · 1962 Coleman Hawkins Desafinado · 1962 Tamba Trio O Barquinho · 1962 Herbie Mann & Antônio Carlos Jobim One Note Samba · 1962 Stan Getz & Charlie Byrd One Note Samba · 1962 Coleman Hawkins One Note Samba · 1962 Lambert, Hendricks & Bavan One Note Samba · 1962 Zoot Sims Recado Bossa Nova · 1962 Vince Guaraldi Trio Samba de Orfeu · 1962 Elza Laranjeira Só Danço Samba · 1962 Antônio Carlos Jobim Água de Beber · 1963 Paul Desmond Black Orpheus · 1963 Joe Henderson Blue Bossa · 1963 Antônio Carlos Jobim Chega de Saudade · 1963 Stan Getz and João Gilberto, with Antônio Carlos Jobim and Astrud Gilberto Corcovado · 1963 Antônio Carlos Jobim Corcovado · 1963 Antônio Carlos Jobim Desafinado · 1963 Stan Getz and João Gilberto, featuring Antonio Carlos Jobim Desafinado · 1963 Herbie Mann Desafinado · 1963 Jair Rodrigues Favela · 1963 Stan Getz & Luiz Bonfá Favela · 1963 Antonio Carlos Jobim Favela · 1963 Antônio Carlos Jobim How Insensitive · 1963 Stan Getz and Luiz Bonfá How Insensitive · 1963 Antônio Carlos Jobim Meditation · 1963 Stan Getz and João Gilberto, with Antônio Carlos Jobim O Grande Amor · 1963 Antônio Carlos Jobim Once I Loved · 1963 Antônio Carlos Jobim One Note Samba · 1963 Joe Henderson Quintet Recorda Me · 1963 Bud Shank, Clare Fischer and Joe Pass Samba de Orfeu · 1963 Paul Desmond Quartet with Jim Hall Samba de Orfeu · 1963 Herbie Mann Samba de Orfeu · 1963 Stan Getz & Luiz Bonfá Só Danço Samba · 1963 Stan Getz & João Gilberto, with Antonio Carlos Jobim Só Danço Samba · 1963 Antônio Carlos Jobim Só Danço Samba · 1963 Stan Getz & João Gilberto The Girl from Ipanema · 1963 Antônio Carlos Jobim The Girl from Ipanema · 1963 Herbie Mann The Girl from Ipanema · 1963 Charlie Byrd A Felicidade · 1964 Sarah Vaughan Corcovado · 1964 Oscar Peterson Trio Corcovado · 1964 Sambalanço Trio Favela · 1964 Wanda Sá Inútil Paisagem · 1964 The Modern Jazz Quartet & Laurindo Almeida One Note Samba · 1964 The Howard Roberts Quartet Recado Bossa Nova · 1964 Milt Jackson Sextet with Lillian Clark Só Danço Samba · 1964 Marcos Valle Summer Samba · 1964 Oscar Peterson Trio The Girl from Ipanema · 1964 Nat King Cole The Girl from Ipanema · 1964 Ramsey Lewis Trio A Felicidade · 1965 Astrud Gilberto, with Antônio Carlos Jobim Água de Beber · 1965 Dexter Gordon Black Orpheus · 1965 Astrud Gilberto Dindi · 1965 Astrud Gilberto Favela · 1965 Wes Montgomery with the Oliver Nelson Orchestra Favela · 1965 Astrud Gilberto How Insensitive · 1965 Antonio Carlos Jobim Inútil Paisagem · 1965 Astrud Gilberto Meditation · 1965 Astrud Gilberto Once I Loved · 1965 Hank Mobley Quintet Recado Bossa Nova · 1965 Tony Bennett The Gentle Rain · 1965 Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66 Água de Beber · 1966 Stan Getz Quartet Black Orpheus · 1966 Gary Burton Trio Chega de Saudade · 1966 Wes Montgomery How Insensitive · 1966 Oscar Peterson Meditation · 1966 Ella Fitzgerald with Duke Ellington Só Danço Samba · 1966 Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66 Só Danço Samba · 1966 Walter Wanderley Summer Samba · 1966 Astrud Gilberto and Walter Wanderley Summer Samba · 1966 Johnny Mathis Summer Samba · 1966 Dizzy Gillespie Summer Samba · 1966 Ramsey Lewis Summer Samba · 1966 Ramsey Lewis The Gentle Rain · 1966 Stan Getz with Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Orchestra The Girl from Ipanema · 1966 Stanley Turrentine Black Orpheus · 1967 Kenny Dorham Blue Bossa · 1967 Frank Sinatra and Antônio Carlos Jobim Corcovado · 1967 Frank Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim Dindi · 1967 Frank Sinatra and Antônio Carlos Jobim How Insensitive · 1967 Frank Sinatra and Antonio Carlos Jobim Inútil Paisagem · 1967 Antonio Carlos Jobim Look to the Sky · 1967 Frank Sinatra and Antônio Carlos Jobim Meditation · 1967 Gábor Szabó O Barquinho · 1967 Stan Getz Quartet O Grande Amor · 1967 Frank Sinatra & Antônio Carlos Jobim Once I Loved · 1967 Frank Sinatra & Antônio Carlos Jobim The Girl from Ipanema · 1967 Antonio Carlos Jobim Triste · 1967 Antônio Carlos Jobim Zingaro · 1967 Ahmad Jamal How Insensitive · 1968 Jimmy Smith with the Oliver Nelson Orchestra The Gentle Rain · 1968 Chico Buarque Zingaro · 1968 Frank Sinatra, with Antônio Carlos Jobim Água de Beber · 1969 Wayne Shorter Dindi · 1969 Roy Ayers Look to the Sky · 1969 Dexter Gordon Meditation · 1969 Elis Regina O Barquinho · 1969 Frank Sinatra with Antonio Carlos Jobim Triste · 1969 Frank Sinatra with Antônio Carlos Jobim Wave · 1969 Oscar Peterson with the Claus Ogerman Orchestra Wave · 1969
1970s
In 1974 Jobim and the singer Elis Regina make the album Elis & Tom in Los Angeles. In 1975 Stan Getz and João Gilberto record together again for The Best of Two Worlds. Jazz players stretch the songs out: McCoy Tyner's 1977 version of Wave runs 7:27 against Jobim's own 2:56.
Vinícius de Moraes, Maria Creuza & Toquinho A Felicidade · 1970 Antonio Carlos Jobim Aquarela do Brasil · 1970 Joe Pass Meditation · 1970 Joe Henderson Quintet Recorda Me · 1970 Ahmad Jamal Trio Wave · 1970 Nara Leão O Grande Amor · 1971 George Benson The Gentle Rain · 1971 Oscar Peterson Trio with The Singers Unlimited The Gentle Rain · 1971
33 more
Pat Martino How Insensitive · 1972 Ella Fitzgerald & Joe Pass Once I Loved · 1973 Sarah Vaughan Wave · 1973 Kenny Drew Trio A Felicidade · 1974 Elis Regina and Antonio Carlos Jobim Inútil Paisagem · 1974 Chico Buarque Ligia · 1974 Major Holley Quartet Recado Bossa Nova · 1974 Elis Regina & Antonio Carlos Jobim Triste · 1974 Paul Desmond Quartet Wave · 1974 Elis Regina & Antônio Carlos Jobim Zingaro · 1974 Antônio Carlos Jobim Ligia · 1975 Stan Getz and João Gilberto Ligia · 1975 The Paul Desmond Quartet Meditation · 1975 McCoy Tyner Trio Once I Loved · 1975 Stan Getz & João Gilberto Zingaro · 1975 Al Jarreau Água de Beber · 1976 Dexter Gordon Quartet Blue Bossa · 1976 Pat Martino Blue Bossa · 1976 Stanley Turrentine Ligia · 1976 Ella Fitzgerald & Joe Pass One Note Samba · 1976 Roy Eldridge Septet Recado Bossa Nova · 1976 Stan Getz & João Gilberto Zingaro · 1976 Tommy Flanagan Trio Blue Bossa · 1977 Sarah Vaughan Triste · 1977 McCoy Tyner Trio Wave · 1977 Art Pepper Blue Bossa · 1978 Joe Henderson Quartet Recorda Me · 1978 Oscar Peterson, Joe Pass and Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen Samba de Orfeu · 1978 Joe Pass and Paulinho da Costa The Gentle Rain · 1978 Joe Pass and Paulinho da Costa Wave · 1978 Art Pepper Desafinado · 1979 John McNeil and Tom Harrell Look to the Sky · 1979 Gábor Szabó Zingaro · 1979
1980s
Ella Fitzgerald records a whole album of Jobim songs across 1980 and 1981, her only one made entirely in the style. João Gilberto produces his 1981 album Brasil himself and opens it with Aquarela do Brasil. Charlie Byrd makes Plays Jobim in 1982, and in December 1989 Eliane Elias records Eliane Elias Plays Jobim with a bass player and a drummer.
Ella Fitzgerald Favela · 1980 Ella Fitzgerald Água de Beber · 1981 João Gilberto with Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil and Maria Bethânia Aquarela do Brasil · 1981 Emily Remler Look to the Sky · 1981 George Shearing and Marian McPartland O Grande Amor · 1981 Stan Getz Quartet O Grande Amor · 1983 Nara Leão O Barquinho · 1985 Shirley Horn Dindi · 1987
4 more
Shirley Horn Once I Loved · 1988 Eliane Elias Dindi · 1989 Eliane Elias One Note Samba · 1989 Kenny Drew Trio The Gentle Rain · 1989
1990s
Eliane Elias plays Chega de Saudade and Wave with a piano trio on her 1992 album Fantasia. In 1994 Jobim plays Carnegie Hall with Pat Metheny and Joe Henderson, and Henderson records Double Rainbow, a Jobim tribute that began as a planned project with Jobim and changed after his death. Rosa Passos sings an album of Jobim songs in 1998.
Joe Henderson Trio Blue Bossa · 1991 McCoy Tyner Quartet Recorda Me · 1991 Art Farmer Quartet Recorda Me · 1991 The Charlie Byrd Trio Triste · 1991 Eliane Elias Chega de Saudade · 1992 Stanley Turrentine Triste · 1992 Eliane Elias Wave · 1992 Joanne Brackeen Recado Bossa Nova · 1993
15 more
Joe Henderson A Felicidade · 1994 Joe Henderson Ligia · 1994 Joe Henderson Once I Loved · 1994 Joe Henderson Triste · 1994 Joe Henderson Zingaro · 1994 Joyce Moreno and Toninho Horta Inútil Paisagem · 1995 Javon Jackson Inútil Paisagem · 1995 Joyce and Toninho Horta Ligia · 1995 Ana Caram Look to the Sky · 1995 Lee Konitz & The Brazilian Band Dindi · 1996 Joe Henderson Big Band Recorda Me · 1996 McCoy Tyner and the Latin All-Stars Blue Bossa · 1998 Rosa Passos Só Danço Samba · 1998 Roy Hargrove How Insensitive · 1999 Tierney Sutton Recorda Me · 1999
2000s
In 2003 João Gilberto plays Corcovado alone with his guitar in Tokyo. Eliane Elias opens her 2008 album Bossa Nova Stories, which celebrates the 50th anniversary of , with The Girl from Ipanema. Diana Krall names her 2009 album after the English title of Corcovado, and Claus Ogerman arranges and conducts it.
Jane Monheit Dindi · 2000 Patricia Barber Summer Samba · 2000 Cedar Walton Triste · 2002 João Gilberto Ligia · 2003 Rosa Passos & Ron Carter O Grande Amor · 2003 Sophie Milman Água de Beber · 2004 Eliane Elias Summer Samba · 2004 Aaron Goldberg Inútil Paisagem · 2006
5 more
Trio da Paz and Joe Locke Look to the Sky · 2007 Diana Krall Corcovado · 2009 Esperanza Spalding with Gretchen Parlato Inútil Paisagem · 2009 Allan Vaché with the Central Florida Chamber Orchestra Look to the Sky · 2009 Fred Hersch O Grande Amor · 2009
2010s
Chick Corea and Gary Burton play Chega de Saudade and Once I Loved as a piano and vibraphone duo on Hot House in 2012. Stacey Kent sings O Barquinho in Portuguese in 2013, with its composer Roberto Menescal on guitar. In 2015 Eliane Elias opens Made in Brazil with the 1939 song Aquarela do Brasil, the first of her albums in thirty years recorded in Brazil.
Chick Corea & Stefano Bollani Zingaro · 2010 Pat Metheny The Girl from Ipanema · 2011 Andrea Motis & Joan Chamorro Quintet featuring Scott Hamilton Chega de Saudade · 2013 Stacey Kent O Barquinho · 2013 Nilson Matta's Black Orpheus Samba de Orfeu · 2013 Angelo Adamo, Guido Di Leone and Francesco Angiuli Look to the Sky · 2014 Eliane Elias Aquarela do Brasil · 2015 SFJAZZ Collective Ligia · 2018
2 more
Houston Person and Ron Carter The Gentle Rain · 2018 Gabriel Latchin Trio Desafinado · 2019
2020s
Pianist Antonio Adolfo records Jobim Forever in 2021, with a band of saxophone, trombone, guitar and extra percussion. Karrin Allyson records her Brazilian album A Kiss for Brazil in March 2023. In January 2026 Luísa Sonza and Roberto Menescal, who co-wrote O Barquinho in 1961, release Bossa Sempre Nova.
Gustav Lundgren, Jorge Rossy & Doug Weiss Recorda Me · 2020 Antonio Adolfo Favela · 2021 Karrin Allyson Recado Bossa Nova · 2023 Luísa Sonza & Roberto Menescal O Barquinho · 2026

Through the years

The tunes