About Me
Brazilian popular music is often divided into two eras: the years before João Gilberto's first recording and the years that followed. João Gilberto, the singer and guitarist usually credited with introducing bossa nova in the late 1950s, is one of the most elusive and respected figures in Brazilian popular music. In 1995, his work returned to the center of my own musical life, and just as I had more than thirty years earlier I began to immerse myself in João Gilberto's extraordinary sounds.
I learned to listen, truly listen, to his music, opening myself to all his sounds: the words, the sighs, the clicks and hisses. And, more important, to his silences. I liked to put on my headphones, turn out the lights, and listen to the wordless chant of "Undiú" over and over until I could feel his breath in the room, until I was breathing in his rhythm. I listened to him sing "You Do Something to Me" until I felt I was looking into his eyes. Sometimes I dreamed he came to me in the night and infused me with stillness, taught me his silences.
Listening to his music came to consume all my time, his voice filled all my space. I wrote an essay for the Miami Herald about the magic of rediscovering this remarkable voice from my past. I haunted CD stores and used record dealers, and hung color enlargements of his album photos on the wall alongside my desk. I joined an e-mail discussion group called saudades do brasil to have someone to talk to, someone who understood. I began to work, with the other saudadeiros' help, on a Gilberto
In photos João Gilberto's eyes often seem to be looking inward, or they are open wide, startled, as if he has just emerged from a cave within himself. When he smiles he seems even farther away--smiling inwardly, smiling at what he hears, at what only he can hear. I have a video clip of João Gilberto from the rehearsal of a 1980 television show. His wonderful face is so naked that each note, each word, each sound he makes registers in his expression. His clear joy at a well-placed phrase is immediately erased when his voice rasps harshly against a particular low note. He closes his eyes and sadly shakes his head.
Reclusive and singular, João Gilberto is a reluctant performer; his recordings are often separated by decades, his personal appearances few. In December of 1964, at the height of his American popularity, João Gilberto played four short sets on the first night of a nine-day New Year's engagement at Chicago's London House, then declared the club too noisy and would not return. João Gilberto seldom gives Interviews.
My search for a rounded portrait of João Gilberto began with the attempt to glimpse him acting like a regular person. To me, no other artist was so difficult to picture walking, talking, laughing.
Yet Caetano Veloso, who calls João Gilberto "mi maestro," claims that "sometimes he decides, just for fun, to imitate people. He imitates the way of walking, the way of talking, of anyone. When he feels like it, he even imitates Fred Astaire."
And here is an Italian producer's image of João Gilberto in Rome: "The other day, on leaving a restaurant, he stayed a long time conversing with a cat in the street. And the most surprising thing is that the cat was hypnotized by his language. To my astonishment, one would be justified in saying the cat could hear the same way he hears."
According to Maria Bethânia, "João Gilberto simply is music. He plays. He sings. Without stopping. Day and night. He is very, very strange. But he is the most fascinating being, the most fascinating person, that I have encountered on the surface of the earth. João, he is mystery. He hypnotises."
João Gilberto - Discography ----------------------------------
1. Quando Você Recordar/Amar é Bom (1951, Brasil) Todamerica 5075 Recorded: April 9, 1951 (as a member of Garotos da Lua) 78 rpm single
2. Anjo Cruel/ Sem Ela (1951, Brasil) Todamerica 3120 Recorded: September 27, 1951 (as a member of Garotos da Lua) 78 rpm single
3. Quando Ela Sai/Meia Luz (1952, Brasil) Copacabana 096 Recorded: August 1952 78 rpm single
4. Chega de Saudade/Bim Bom (1958, Brasil) Odeon 12725/6 Recorded: July 10, 1958 78 rpm single
5. Desafinado/Hô-bá-lá-lá (1958, Brasil) Odeon 13059 Recorded: November 1958 78 rpm single
6. Chega de Saudade (1959, Brasil) Odeon MOFB 3073 Recorded: see appendix for recording dates of individual tracks Chega de Saudade, Lobo Bobo, Brigas Nunca Mais, Hô-bá-lá-lá, Saudade Fez um Samba, Maria Ninguém, Desafinado, Rosa Morena, Morena Boca de Ouro, Bim Bom, Aos Pés da Cruz, É Luxo Só.
7. O Amor, o Sorriso e a Flor (1960, Brasil) Odeon MOFB 3151 Recorded: see appendix for recording dates of individual tracks Samba de Uma Nota Só, Doralice, Só em Teus Braços, Trevo de 4 Folhas, Se é Tarde me Perdôa, Um Abraço no Bonfá; Meditação, O Pato, Corcovado, Discussão, Amor Certinho, Outra Vez.
8. João Gilberto (1961, Brasil) Odeon MOFB 3202 Recorded: see appendix for recording dates of individual tracks Samba da Minha Terra, O Barquinho, Bolinha de Papel, Saudade da Bahia, A Primeira Vez, O Amor em Paz; Você e Eu, Trem de Ferro, Coisa Mais Linda, Presente de Natal, Insensatez, Este Seu Olhar (ver. 1--see note below).
9. João Gilberto Cantando as Musicás do Filme Orfeo do Carnaval (1962, Brasil) Odeon BWB 1092 (45 rpm "compacto duplo") Recorded: July 2, 1959 O Nosso Amor, A Felicidade, Manhã de Carnaval, Frevo.
10. Brazil's Brilliant João Gilberto (1961, USA) Capitol T-10280 Recorded: see appendix for recording dates of individual tracks Samba de Uma Nota Só, Doralice, Só em Teus Braços, Trevo de 4 Folhas, Se é Tarde Me Perdôa, Um Abraço no Bonfá; Meditação, O Pato, Corcovado, Discussão, Amor Certinho, Outra Vez. Same as 7
11. Boss of the Bossa Nova (1962, USA) Atlantic 8070 Recorded: see appendix for recording dates of individual tracks Bolinha de Papel, Samba da Minha Terra, Saudade da Bahia, O Barquinho, A Primeira Vez, Amor em Paz; Você e Eu, Insensatez, Trenzinho (Trem de Ferro), Presente de Natal, Coisa Mais Linda, Este Seu Olhar (ver. 2--see note below). Same as 8
12. Bossa Nova at Carnegie Hall (1962, USA) Audio Fidelity 2101 Recorded: November 21, 1962 (live) Various performers Outra Vez (only one song)
13. The Warm World of João Gilberto (1963, USA) Atlantic 8076 Recorded: see appendix for recording dates of individual tracks Desafinado, Rosa Morena, Morena Boca de Ouro, Bim Bom, Aos Pes da Cruz, E Luxo Sô; Saudade Fez um Samba, Chega de Saudade, Lobo Bobo, Brigas Nunca Mais, Hô-Bá-Lá-Lá, Maria Ninguém. Same as 6
14. Getz/Gilberto (1963, USA) Verve 68545 Recorded: March18 -19 , 1963 With Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto The Girl from Ipanema, Doralice, Pra Machucar Meu Coração, Desafinado; Corcovado, Só Danço Samba, O Grande Amor, Vivo Sonhando.
15. Herbie Mann & João Gilberto (1965, USA) Atlantic 8105 Recorded: contains previously released material Desafinado, Bolinha de Papel, Maria Ninguém, O Barquinho; Samba da Minha Terra, Rosa Morena, Bim Bom. Plus tracks by Herbie Mann with Jobim and Baden Powell. Mann does not perform with Gilberto.
16. Getz/Gilberto vol. 2 (1966, USA) Verve 68623 Recorded: Oct. 9, 1964 Carnegie Hall (live) With Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto Grandfather's Waltz, Tonight I Shall Sleep with a Smile on My Face, Stan's Blues, Here's that Rainy Day; Samba da Minha Terra, Rosa Morena, Um Abraço no Bonfá, Bim Bom, Meditação, O Pato.
17. João Gilberto en México (1970, Brasil) Orfeon 12-717 Recorded: De Conversa em Conversa, Ela é Carioca, O Sapo, Esperança Perdida, Trolley Song, João Marcelo, Farolito, Astronauta (Samba da Pergunta), Acapulco, Besame Mucho, Eclipse.
18. João Gilberto (1970, Brasil) Philips 199.055 same as 17
19. João Gilberto (1973, Brasil) Polydor 2451073 (reissued 1978, Polyfar 2493 102) Recorded: Ãguas de Março, Undiú, Na Baixa do Sapateiro, Avarandado, Falsa Baiana; Eu Quero um Samba, Eu Vim da Bahia, Isabel (Bebel), É Preciso Perdoar, Izaura.
20. Best of Two Worlds (1976, USA) Columbia PC 33703, Best of Two Worlds (1977, Brasil) CBS 137940 Recorded: With Stan Getz and Miúcha Double Rainbow, Ãguas de Março, LÃgia, Falsa Baiana, Retrato em Branco e Preto, Izaura, Eu Vim da Bahia, João Marcelo, É Preciso Perdoar, Just One of Those Things.
21. Amoroso (1977, USA) Warner BS 3053; (1977, Brasil) WEA 36022 Recorded: November 17, 18, and 19, 1976 and January 3, 4, and 7, 1977 'S Wonderful, Estate, Tin Tin Por Tin Tin, Besame Mucho; Wave, Caminhos Cruzados, Triste, Zingaro.
22. Gilberto and Jobim (1977, USA) Capitol T-2160 Recorded: contains previously released material Same as 7 and 10 plus Manhã de Carnaval and A Felicidade from 9.
23. Joao Gilberto Prado Pereira de Oliveira (1980, Brasil) WEA 36164 Recorded: 1980 (live, TV Globo) Menino do Rio, Curare, Retrato em Branco e Preto, Chega de Saudade (with Bebel Gilberto), Desafinado, O Pato, Eu e a Brisa, Jou Jou Balangandã (with Rita Lee), Canta Brasil.
24. Brasil (1981, Brasil) WEA BSK 3613 Recorded: With Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Maria Bethânia Aquarela do Brasil, Disse Alguém (All of Me), Bahia Com H, No Tabuleiro da Baiana, Milagre, Cordeiro de Nanã.
25. Interpreta Tom Jobim (1985, Brasil) EMI Odeon052 422005 Recorded: previously released material A Felicidade, Desafinado, Insensatez, Este Seu Olhar (ver. 1), Chega de Saudade, Meditação, Samba de Uma Nota Só, O Nossa Amor, O Amor em Paz, Só em Teus Bracos, Corcovado, Discussão.
26. Meditação (1985, Brasil) EMI 31C 052 422157 Recorded: previously released material Samba da Minha Terra, Rosa Morena, O Barquinho, O Pato, É Luxo Só, Meditação, Lobo Bobo; Saudade da Bahia, Morena Boca de Ouro, Maria Ninguém, Amor Certinho, Bolinha de Papel, Aos Pés da Cruz, Bim Bom.
27. João Gilberto Live in Montreux (1986, Brasil) WEA 36215/76 (double CD) Recorded: July18, 1985, Montreux Jazz Festival (live) Disc 1: Tim Tim Por Tim Tim, Preconceito, Sem Compromisso,Menino do Rio, Retrato em Branco e Preto, Pra Que Discutir com Madame, Garota de Ipanema, Desafinado, O Pato Disc 2: Adeus América, Estate, Morena Boca de Ouro, A Felicidade, Sandália de Prata, Aquarela do Brasil.
28. João Gilberto Live in Montreux (1987, USA) Elektra E2-60760 (single CD) Recorded: July 18, 1985, Montreux Jazz Festival (live) Sem Compromisso, Menino do Rio, Retrato em Branco e Preto, Pra que Discutir com Madame, Garota de Ipanema, Adeus América, Estate, Morena Boca de Ouro, A Felicidade, Preconceito, Sandália de Prata, Rosa Morena, Aquarela do Brasil.
29. O Mito (1988, Brasil) EMI 164-79115-1 Recorded: previously released material Three-record package including Chega de Saudade; O Amor, o Sorriso, e a Flor; João Gilberto; plus O Nosso Amor/A Felicidade (as a medley) and Manhã de Carnaval from 9 .
30. The Legendary João Gilberto (1990, USA) World Pacific CDP 7 93891 2 (single CD) Same as 29
31. João (1991, Brasil) PolyGram 848188-2 (single CD) Recorded: May 1990
32. João (1991, USA) Polydor 848-507 (single CD) Recorded: May 1990 I Really Samba (Eu Sambo Mesmo), Go On (Siga), Little Rose (Rosinha), Malaga, A Woman (Una Mujer), My Heart and I (Eu e Meu Coração), You Do Something to Me, Unhappy Remark (Palpite Infeliz), Ave Maria on the Hill (Ave Maria no Morro), Sampa, Smiled at Me (Sorriu para Mim), I Wish You Love (Que Reste-t-il de nos Amours).
33. Eu Sei Que Vou Te Amar (1994, Brasil) EPIC 789.042/2-476467; (1995, USA) Sony CDZ-81513/2-476467 (single CD) Recorded: April 13, 1994, Palace Theatre, São Paulo (live) Eu Sei que Vou Te Amar, Desafinado, Vôce Não Sabe Amar, Fotografia, Rosa Morena, Lá Vem a Baiana, Pra Que Discutir com Madame, Isto Aqui o Que é [Sandalia de Prata], Meditação, Da Cor do Pecado, Guacyra, Se é Por Falta de Adeus, Chega de Saudade, A Valsa de Quem Não Tem Amor, Corcovado, Estate, O Amor em Paz, Aos Pés da Cruz.
34.João Voz e Violão (2000, Brasil) Universal/Mercury 73145467132 (Single CD) Recorded: July, 1999 Desde que o Samba é Samba, Vôce Vai Ver, Eclipse, Não Vou pra Casa, Desafinado, Eu Vim da Bahia, Coração Vagabundo, Da Cor do Pecado, Segredo, Chega de Saudade.
NOTES: There are two recorded versions of "Este Seu Olhar." On the American release Boss of the Bossa Nova, Gilberto sings and plays guitar with percussion and the piano of Tom Jobim, although the liner notes say Gilberto "accompanies himself on guitar." On the Brazilian releases he does indeed sing with only guitar accompaniment, and at a faster pace. There are also significant differences in the melody in several places, the Brazilian version being closer to the tune as originally written ver.1=guitar only (Brazilian releases); ver.2=guitar, piano, percussion (USA release)
João Gilberto lived in the United States from 1966 to 1980, except for 1969-70 when he lived in Mexico.
