By 1958, the acoustic guitar, in one form or another, had been the instrument of folk music for centuries. This was true in virtually every country in the world, from Britain’s citra to stringed instruments used to play America’s blues, Cuba’s bolero, French jazz, England’s skiffle and much more.
There are three primary reasons for the guitar’s popularity: it was among the least expensive instruments to own, it was portable and the player could sing along.
One of the exceptions to the guitar’s folk rule was Brazil’s bossa nova. Yes, the bossa nova was a form of folk music, but unlike nearly all other folk styles, the bossa nova was closer to romantic pop and a more commercial form that became popular worldwide in all Western cultures at the close of the 1950s and start of the 1960s.
No album better illustrates the epic explosion of the bossa nova guitar than a new collection from Cherry Red Records. Brazil on Guitar features three CDs with a spotlight on key bossa nova guitarist masters—Baden Powell, Carlos Lyra, João Gilberto, Luiz Bonfá, Laurindo Almeida and Garoto.
Some of the tracks are instrumentals while others are accompanied by vocals. All are sweet, beautiful, rhythmic and uplifting. The songs have been exquisitely selected and turn your day into a sandy day at the beach. All you have to do is put on the set and let the discs play. The guitar never sounded better.
JazzWax tracks: You’ll find Brazil on Guitar (Cherry Red) at streaming platforms and to buy here and here.
JazzWax clips: Here’s Baden Powell’s Do jeito que a gente quer…
Here’s João Gilberto’s Voce e eu…
Luis Bonfa’s Shearing…
Here’s Bonfa’s George Back in Town…
