Bossa Nova

Arju Pal
Sep 19
4 min read

Bossa Nova (literally meaning “new trend” or “new style” in Portuguese) is an ethnic style of music originating from Brazil in the 1950s. It combined elements of American jazz with Brazilian samba rhythms, introducing the complex harmonies and melodic dissonances of jazz while still staying true to the essence of traditional Brazilian music. The style emerged from a guitar school in Brazil, and the style was a reflection of the optimistic times of the country (Brazil was booming economically and culturally during the 1950s and 60s): a laid back, relaxing, somewhat melancholic (in a reflective way) feeling, conveying the typical imagery of paradise. In the late 1950s, it was largely a Brazilian trend, and while America by this time had already been exposed to some Brazilian music (with songs such as ‘Brazil’ and ‘Tico Tico’), it wasn’t until the early 1960s, when American jazz artists such as Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd started playing the songs of Antonio Carlos Jobim (one of the great exponents of Brazilian music at the time, and a key figure in the development of bossa nova as a genre), that Brazilian music had started to take off in popularity and spread rapidly throughout the United States.

Although Bossa Nova seems to be quite laid back at first hearing, it is stylistically very rigid - that is, sparse, unemotional, and gentle. Latin jazz, unlike regular jazz, emphasizes heavily on the importance of rhythm and keeping time. Rather than having a “swing” feeling, which is common in American jazz, it “sways,” using straight rhythms of eighth notes (often syncopated) instead of a swing or shuffle (like a triplet). There is no foundational rhythm unlike other genres, which often lead to many various and interesting interpretations of Bossa Nova rhythms. However, there is a guideline which artists can use, called the “Bossa Nova clave,” that can be built upon. The rhythm is typically played by the drummer as an ostinato. This rhythm does not have any influence on how the other rhythms are played, though, and the clave does not necessarily have to be used.

Bossa Nova was able to reach the American market thanks to the release of an album recorded by two prominent American artists: Stan Getz (saxophonist) and Charlie Byrd (guitarist). This album was “Jazz Samba,” released in 1962 The two artists were the first American artists to seamlessly blend elements of jazz with Brazilian rhythms, and made it such that it was understandable to the public. The album was an immediate hit, selling half a million copies in the first 18 months alone, and managed to become the only jazz album to make it into the Billboard Top 100 chart. It also marked a radical departure from traditional American jazz as well, and all this happened during a time before the Beatles came onto the scene and changed the jazz genre altogether. What made this such a success is quite easy to see, actually. A simple formula that works like a miracle. The soft textures, dynamics, and a “chill” type of rhythm evident in their pieces was a throwback to the old-school “coolness” of the previous 1950s decade. Getz’s soft and tender tenor tone was admired even by contemporaries who had a much “edgier” feel, such as John Coltrane, and his natural lyricism allowed him to get along more effectively with the rest of the band, sort of like “going with the flow,” in other words. The song “Desafinado” is the most well-known song from the album, but other than that, nearly the entire album was composed by Brazilians. There are also other memorable material used in the album, in songs such as the “Samba de Una Nota So” (One-Note Samba), the shimmering Bahia, and the wistful Samba Triste.

Stan Getz was an American jazz saxophonist who was particularly noted for his unique, cool sound. Born in 1927 in Philadelphia to Jewish parents, he would soon grow up to take the saxophone at the age of 13. Within two years, he had already made his first public debut performance, and soon after, his career took off as he made it into Jack Teagen’s band at the age of 16. He spent much of his time in Denmark, which by the 1950s there was already a thriving jazz scene, to avoid serving jail time in America for his drug offences. He entered the jazz stage along with some of his contemporaries, many of whom had already made their name in jazz, such as Chet Baker and Miles Davis, however, his sound was what made him unique and special: it made him stand out from other jazz artists. Although he had a sweet sound, in reality his personality was often quite the opposite. He also took inspiration from Oscar Peterson and his Trio, along with Herb Ellis (guitarist) and Ray Brown (bass). Both Peterson and Getz were virtuosos in their respective instruments, and were prodigies in their youth.

What started as a local genre relatively unknown to the masses quickly became a worldwide sensation within just a few years. Bossa Nova continues to capture audiences all around the world and inspires artists to this day.

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