Terry Gilliam once wrote that his movie Brazil was not about a place, but a state of mind. Bossa Nova, a form of music that originated from Brazil is also more about a state of mind, than an actual place. Before I was born, a man named Joao Gilberto and Antonio Carlos Jobim created the style of music called Bossa Nova. It's a slow easy going relaxing music of the idle rich in Brazil. Think Ipanema Beach, beautiful women, and a nice drink in your hand. One day, jazz master Stan Getz went down to Brazil to record an album with Gilberto and Jobim. Joao brought his wife Astrud, to the studio. She even got to sing on the album, including a song that Jobim had written that had popularity in Brazil, "The Girl from Ipanema".

Well, the rest as you may guess is elevator music history. Ever see a movie where the action stops and everyone gets on an elevator? (such as the Blues Brothers for example) Chances are, the song playing is "The Girl from Ipanema". I don't care if you are a hard rock fan, a country fan or whatever, I guarantee that at some point in your life, you have heard this song "tall and tan, and young and lovely, the girl from Ipanema goes walking, and when she walks everyone goes Ahhhh" It's a simple song about a man watching a beautiful woman pass him each day on Ipanema beach who finds himself in love, but she pays no attention to him. It was Astrud Gilberto singing this song that brought Bossa nova to the United States and the rest of the world. Oh, and shortly thereafter that I was born.

Cut to me about 40 years later, and I find that bossa nova is more than just a song in an elevator, it's a very beautiful relaxing musical style that just sets your mind at ease. Getz/Gilberto on SACD has become one of my favorite Bossa Nova acquisitions after going through several compilation albums to find music I wanted. This album starts with the song that started it all, "Girl from Ipanema". It's easy to hear what all the fuss was about, the song starts with Joao Gilberto singing the song in Portuguese in the left channel while a guitar gently strums in the right. Then Astrud begins to sing from the right channel. Her voice sounds just beautiful, and her odd accent, for me just added color to it. (I have noted other reviewers were off put by her accent). Then in comes Getz's saxaphone in the left channel, sounding almost mournful for the poor guy whose stares and smiles are unreturned by his girl from Ipanema. "she looks straight ahead and not at he". This SACD made me hear the song in the same fresh way that it must have been heard back in the 1960s.

The album continues with "Doralice" and "Para Machuchar Meu Coracao" and "Desafinado" three songs sung in Portuguese by Joao Gilberto. All are soft relaxing songs with slow gentle beats.

The fifth song really puts me in another state of mind. "Corcovado (Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars)" is another song sung in English by Astrud. She sings quietly and beautifully about, well quiet nights and quiet stars. Soon she is joined by her husband singing in Portuguese, and then Getz's saxaphone. A gentle acoustic guitar and piano join in. I still can't believe this recording was made in the early 60s, because each instrument is so crisp and clear with no hiss or other noise.

"So Danco Samba" features some nice guitar work. "O Grande Amor" begins with another soulful sax solo that just melts in your ears. The drumming and piano seem barely there, they just keep the beat, and serve as a backdrop for the sax and vocals. The original album ended with "Vivo Sonhando (Dreamer)", but the SACD adds two songs (maybe the CD did too, I don't know) the 45 version of "The Girl from Ipanema" and "Corcovado (Quiet Nights and Quiet Stars".

All in all, Getz / Gilberto is just a fine bossa nova album that showcases why it became so popular and still exists today. The gentle melodies, the beautiful vocals (especially those of Astrud), and the evocative saxaphone do create that state of mind called Brazil.

Getz / Gilberto on Super Audio CD is not playable on regular CD players, and it is a stereo SACD only, there is no surround sound track. The stereo separation and the sound quality on this disc are topnotch, especially when you consider that the original LP was recorded in 1963. I really could close my eyes and picture myself there, and place every instrument and person. The insert was also very informative.

Review Equipment: SACD was played on a Pioneer Elite 47A with optical out for the audio. Processing was from a Yamaha AV 5280 amplified by a dedicated Rotel RB 991 200 w/ch stereo amplifier. Speakers were Polk Audio Monitor 70s.

Other Great Brazilian Music:

Bebel Gilberto (2004)
Bebel Gilberto - Tanto Tempo
Bebel Gilberto - Tanto Tempo Remixes
Joao Gilberto Live in Montreux
Antonio Carlos Jobim - Terra Brasilis
Pure Brazil - The Girls of Ipanema
Gilberto / Getz
Diana Krall - Quiet Nights
Ceu
Sabrina Malheiros - New Morning
Seu Jorge - The Life Aquatic Sessions

Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Romancing