Antonio Carlos Jobim - Wave (1967/2014) [HDTracks]

The first of three richly-orchestrated, mostly instrumental albums from the late 1960s by bossa nova pioneer Antonio Carlos Jobim. On Wave, released in 1967, Jobim explores jazz influences, recording with jazz legends like Ron Carter and Urbie Green and a large string section under the direction of conductor/arranger Claus Ogerman. The album, engineered by Rudy Van Gelder, became an international hit and appealed to both jazz and easy listening audiences.

When Creed Taylor left Verve/MGM for his own label under the auspices of A&M, he quickly signed Antonio Carlos Jobim and they picked up right where they left off with this stunningly seductive record, possibly Jobim's best. Jobim contributes his sparely rhythmic acoustic guitar, simple melodic piano style, a guest turn at the harpsichord, and even a vocal on "Lamento," while Claus Ogerman lends a romantically brooding hand with the charts. A pair of instant standards are introduced ("Wave," "Triste"), but this album is to be cherished for its absolutely first-rate tunes – actually miniature tone poems – that escaped overexposure and thus sound fresh today. The most beautiful sleeper is "Batidinha," where the intuitive Jobim/Ogerman collaboration reaches its peak. One only wishes that this album were longer; 31 munutes is not enough.