After getting into Bossa Nova and Jazz, my music purchasing site suggested that I may like Antonio Carlos Jobim one of the founders of the Bossa Nova movement in Brazil. I ordered a couple and here are my thoughts on Wave

Express Review

Elevator Music! Background Music! This is bossa nova instrumental music on sedatives. Although Antonio Carlos Jobim is one of the founders of Bossa Nova, this album is much too mellow and it is guaranteed to put you to sleep!


Full Length Review

What sort of Music is Wave?

Jobim's album here is pure instrumental, and it is very relaxing to the point of fading away in the background. The music does not hold up to any serious listening, it is just too mellow. It's bossa nova on sedatives! I caught traces of other bossa nova songs I enjoyed, but at a slowed down pace. If you have heard Gilberto / Getz for example, it is like that, only slower and without the vocals or the catchy rhythms. The album was recorded at Van Gelder Studios in May and June of 1967.

What kind of Instruments?

I was surprised at the number of musicians on this album, they needed a conductor. There is bass, three drums, a french horn, flutes and piccolos, trombones, violins and cellos. Antonio Carlos Jobim plays piano, harpischord and guitar.

What Songs are on this?

The tracks are all instrumentals and they are titled Wave, The Red Blouse, Look to the Sky, Batidinha, Triste, Mojave, Dialogo, Lamento, Antigua and Captain Bacardi. The songs all fade into one another, and I couldn't really tell where one ended and the next began. All the songs have a certain sameness to them as well, I honestly could not pick out any particular track as being better or worse than another. Well, actually, Lamento had some lyrics sung in Portuguese.

Who Would I recommend this for?

If you have trouble sleeping, this album should put you to sleep. If you feel that relaxing jazz or bossa nova is just too loud and hectic, this album is for you! If you run a small to medium mental health hospital or facility and you need some music to keep your patients mellow and care free, this is the music to pipe through those pillow lined hallways..

Who Would I Caution Against Buying this Album?

If you are a long distance truck driver, or if you operate heavy machinery, you shouldn't listen to this.

Sound Quality The quality of the recording is just fine, if you can stay awake, you can place the lazy saxophones, the sombalistic pianos, the sleep inducing trombones, and the relaxing harpischords.

Summary I listen to this music when I feel anxiety or stress. Sometimes I will listen to this CD when I am going to sleep. Musically, I find it rather dull, it is just too slow and mellow. I won't say that the album is poor, the musicians are clearly talented. However, this music just lacks any real substance to bring it to even three stars. 2 stars. (but 4 stars as a sleep aid)

Recommend this product?