The Composer of Desafinado, Plays

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The Composer of Desafinado, Plays 

The Composer of Desafinado, Plays is the debut album by Antonio Carlos Jobim, released in 1963.

In his first American album, Antonio Carlos Jobim presents a dozen of his songs, each one destined to become a standard -- an astounding batting average. Jobim, who claimed to have been out of practice at the time of the session, merely plays single notes on the piano with one hand, punctuated by chords now and then, sticking to his long, undulating melodies with a few passages of jazz improvisation now and then. Yet it is a lovely idea, not a gesture is wasted.

Arranger Claus Ogerman unveils many of the trademarks that would define his Creed Taylor-produced albums with Jobim-- the soaring, dying solo flute and spare, brooding unison string lines widening into lush harmony; flutes doubling on top of Jobim's piano chords -- again with an exquisitely spare touch. 

The songs include "Desafinado," "Corcovado," "Chega de Saudade" (No More Blues), "The Girl From Ipanema," "Meditation," "One Note Samba," and half-a-dozen others (every one of which is included on The Man From Ipanema set).

The first three tracks from side 1 of the original LP issued on the Verve label in 1963. Jobim plays guitar and piano in these tracks.

The Girl From Ipanema (0:01)

Amor em Paz (marked as "O Morro" on the label) (2:39)

Agua de Beber (6:10)

Tracks 4, 5 and 6 from side 1 of the original LP issued on the Verve label in 1963. Jobim plays guitar and piano in these tracks.

Dreamer (0:01)

Favela (2:34)

Insensatez (5:47)

There is a Wikipedia article devoted to this LP here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Composer_of_Desafinado_Plays

Artists: Antônio Carlos Jobim, piano and guitar; Leo Wright, flute; George Duvivier, baixo (bass); Jimmy Cleveland, trombone; Edison Machado, drums.