Chronology

Below is a brief list of important events in bossa nova history. It will give you an impression of its development. Not all songs and events are listed.

1953

Joao Donato and Os Namorados are already setting the stage for bossa nova with EU QUERO UM SAMBA on Sinter label, played on his accordion very close to the style that Joao Gilberto will one day adapt. In the USA, Laurindo Almeida and Bud Shank on Brazilliance, Vol. 1 LP are playing a type of bossa nova beat - 5 years before the movement began in Rio de Janeiro, convincingly demonstrated on at least three songs, SPEAK LOW, TERRA SECA and INQUIETACAO. Garoto is playing with Trio Surdina in the USA and Luiz Bonfa composes PERDIDO DE AMOR.

1954

Johnny Alf starts to play at the bar in the Hotel Plaza with Paulo Ney and Barbosa. Dick Farney, Gilberto Milfont, Elizeth Cardoso and Emilinha Borba are recording for Continental and The Symphony of Rio de Janeiro, composed by Tom Jobim and Billy Blanco is being performed and recorded.

1955

Lucio Alves and Dick Farney are regular performers in local clubs. Johnny Alf goes to Sao Paulo to inaugurate A Baiuca. Luiz Eca, Ed Lincoln, Paulo Ney and Donato, take his place at the bar. Garoto passes away. His style influences Laurindo de Almeida, Luiz Bonfa, Paulinho Nogueira and Baden Powell.

1956

Jobim meets Vinicius at Casa Villarino. Orfeu da Conceicao performed at Teatro Municipal in Rio. Candinho was chosen to play the guitar but because he could not read music, was substituted by Luiz Bonfa. Text by Vinicius de Moraes, music by Tom Jobim and directed by Leo Justi. Walter Silva's show Pica-Pau is aired on Radio Bandeirantes.

1957

Alaide Costa records TARDE DEMAIS and C’EST LA VIE on 78 rpm for the Odeon label. Sylvia Telles records her first 10" LP for Odeon called CARICIA, with POR CAUSA DE VOCE, CANCAO DA VOLTA, CHOVE LA FORA, DUAS CONTAS, FOI A NOITE and SE TODOS FOSSEM IGUAIS A VOCE. Alaide Costa records FRASES DE AMOR for Odeon. In the United States, musicians like Chet Baker, the Modern Jazz Quartet, Oscar Peterson and George Shearing were influencing the jazz scene.

1958

Alaide Costa records EU SEM VOCE and DOMINGO DE AMOR. Elizeth Cardoso records for Festa de Irineu Garcia, CANCAO DO AMOR DEMAIS. Songs are CHEGA DE SAUDADE, SERENATA DO ADEUS, OUTRA VEZ, ESTRADA BRANCA, LUCIANA and EU NAO EXISTO SEM VOCE. Joao Gilberto on guitar, is participating musician. Joao Gilberto is casually recording on reel to reel tape at his friend and photographer Chico Pereira's apartment, Astrud Weinert is there and many songs recorded were never released, such as MAGOA, NOS BRACOS DE ISABEL and O BEM DO AMOR. On this tape you can hear Joao developing his bossa nova style which is not yet fully developed. Moises Fuks puts on a show in the Hebrew Group auditorium with Sylvinha Telles and advertises it as "a bossa nova evening", possibly the first reference to the name.

Joao records BIM BOM, CHEGA DE SAUDADE, OBA LA LA and DESAFINADO (composed by Jobim-Mendonca) for Odeon. In Paris, guitarist/singer Henri Salvador records very popular bossa nova song DANS MON ILE. Putting aside the coined term - bossa nova, 1958 was generally considered by most, as the year that the bossa nova "movement" officially started. Joao Gilberto was interpreting songs with this strange and wonderful new beat. Others argue that it may have started with that "syncopated beat" in 1953 with the Laurindo Almeida Quartet. I leave it up to you to decide.

1959

Joao Gilberto records BRIGAS NUNCA MAIS, MORENA BOCA DE OURO, LOBO BOBO, SAUDADE FEZ UM SAMBA, MARIA NINGUEM, ROSA MORENA, AOS PES DA SANTA CRUZ and E LUXO SO. Producer Aloysia de Oliveira, arrangements Tom Jobim. Nat King Cole sings in Sao Paulo. Bene Nunes host a party for Tom and many popular musicians for O Cruzeiro magazine. Sylvia Telles records SUAS MAOS, E PRECICO DIZER ADEUS, MAGOA, NESTE MESMO LUGAR, ESTRADA DO SOL, AULA DE MATHEMATICA and BOM DIA TRISTEZA. Alaide Costa records LOBO BOBO, MADRUGADA, TERMINEMOS EM PAZ, ERROS DE GRAMATICA, MINHA SAUDADE and ESTRADA BRANCA. A lot of Jobim songs are being recorded by Elza Laranjeira, Isaurinha Garcia, Norma Bengell, Carlos Jose, Luiz Claudio and Lenita Bruno.

Agostinho dos Santos sings MANHA DE CARNAVAL by Antonio Maria and Luiz Bonfa for the film Black Orpheus. Festival Do Samba Moderno at the Teatro de Arena da Faculdade de Arquitetura in Rio. Presented by Norma Bengell with Tom Jobim, Sylvia Telles, Alaide Costa, Carlos Lyra, Ronaldo Boscoli, Baden Powell, Roberto Menescal, Oscar Castro Neves, Luiz Carlos Vinhas, Nara Leao, Normando, Leo Castro Neves, Joao Mario Castro Neves, Henrique, Bebeto and Chico Feitosa participating. The attendance was overwhelming with standing room only. A recording by Sylvia Telles for Odeon, with SO EM TEUS BRACOS, FOTOGRAFIA, DEMAIS, ESQUECENDO VOCE and DINDI, produced by Aloysia de Oliveira. The second Samba Festival at the Naval School in Rio, and a third on Radio Globo. The same group attends with newcomers, Luiz Eca and Maria Norma.

1960

Joao Gilberto records his second LP called O AMOR, O SORRISO E A FLOR. Songs are SAMBA DE UMA NOTA SO, MEDITACAO, CORCOVADO and OUTRA VEZ. Sergio Ricardo records his first LP for Odeon label. Songs are BOUQUE DE ISABEL, ALEM DO MAIS, O NOSSO OLHAR, AMOR RUIM and ZELAO. Carlos Lyra records CHORA TUA TRISTEZA, CIUME, RAPAZ DE BEM, QUANDO CHEGARES, MARIA NINGUEM and MENINA. Opens, the First National Festival of Bossa Nova at the Teatro Record in Sao Paulo. Participating are Carlos Lyra, Juca Chaves, Elza Soares, Alaide Costa, Geraldo Vandre, Os Jograis, Roberto Ribeiro, Oscar Castro Neves, Iko and Luiz Carlos Vinhas.

Opening at the same place in Rio, is the second Show of Bossa Nova, called O AMOR, E SORRISO E A FLOR at Arena da Faculdade and the NOITE DO SAMBALANCO at the Catholic Univerity.with thousands in attendance. Participants were Tom Jobim, Joao Gilberto, Ronaldo Boscoli, Dorival Caymmi, Johnny Alf, Os Cariocas, Astrud Gilberto, Vinicius de Moraes, Baden Powell, Elza Soares, Rosana Toledo, Dori and Nana Caymmi, Nara Leao, Trio Irakitan, Roberto Menescal, Chico Feitosa, Bebeto, Luiz Carlos Vinhas, Pedrinho Mattar Trio, Caetano Zamma, Sergio Ricardo, Claudette Soares, Luiz Paulo, Fernando and Bill Horn. Roberto Menescal's Conjunto Bossa Nova records for Odeon, MEDITACAO, NAO FAZ ASSIM, MINHA SAUDADE and CEU E MAR. Carlos Lyra records Bossa Nova Mesmo on Philips label, with Sylvia Telles, Lucio Alves, Vinicius de Moraes and the Turma da Bossa Nova (Oscar, Iko and Mario Castro Neves) with MEDITACAO, PATINHO FEIO, MENINA FEIA, SO EM TEUS BRACOS, PELA LUZ DOS TEUS OLHOS and CHORA TUA TRISTEZA.

1961

Joao Gilberto records his third album, accompaniment by Walter Wanderley. They do O BARQUINHO, SAUDADE DA BAHIA, AMOR EM PAZ, SAMBA DA MINHA TERRA, VOCE E EU, INSENSATEZ and ESTE SEU OLHAR. Geraldo Vandre is recording QUEM QUISER ENCONTRAR O AMOR on 78 rpm with RGE label, and Baden Powell as accompanist. Sergio Ricardo records his second album for Odeon label with FOI A NOITE, DUAS CONTAS, POEMA DOS OLHOS DA AMADA, EU SONHEI QUE TU ESTAVAS TAO LINDA, ILUSAO A TOA and QUEM QUISER ENCONTRAR O AMOR. Charlie Byrd performs bossa nova. In the bars at Beco das Garrafas (Little Bar and Baccara), Sebastiao Neto, Dom um Romao, Ronaldo Boscoli, Mauricio Einhorn and Sergio Mendes participated in shows. Other clubs are hosting bossa nova musicians such as Ma Griffe, Vogue, Carrousel, Mocambo, Nick's Bar, Sacha's, Au Bon Gourmet and Zum-Zum.

1962

Philips produces Sambalanco de Carlos Lyra album with INFLUENCA DO JAZZ, ARUANDA, QUEM QUISER ENCONTRAR O AMOR, MARCHA DE 4a FEIRA DE CINZAS, MARIA DO MARANHAO and CANCAO QUE MORRE NO AR. Flavio Ramos opens up his night club Au Bon Gourmet in Rio. He puts on shows produced by Aloysia de Oliveira called O Encontro with appearances of Joao Gilberto, Vinicius de Moraes and Os Cariocas. Next of shows in the series called Sonho de Moca with Sylvia Telles, and the following shows; Lennie Dale with the Sambalanco Trio (Cesar Camargo Mariano), Trio Irakitan with Baden Powell, Pobre Menina Rica with Carlos Lyra, Nara Leao and Vinicius de Moraes, Chico Anisio and Tamba Trio, and Silvio Caldes. The last show is with Maysa behind Sergio Mendes. Sidney Frey, President of Audio Fidelity, comes to Brazil with contracts for bossa nova artists to appear in Carnegie Hall. Geraldo Vandre records for Audio Fidelity and Ana Lucia sings SAMBA EM PRELUDIO by Baden and Vinicius. Luiz Carlos Vinhas starts Bossa Tres.

In November, it’s off to Carnegie Hall in New York, with participation by Bola Sete, Carmen Costa, Joao Gilberto, Jose Paulo, Oscar Castro Neves Quartet, Luiz Bonfa, Agostinho dos Santos, Sergio Mendes Sextet, Carlos Lyra, Roberto Menescal, Chico Feitosa, Miltinho Banana, Sergio Ricardo, Caetano Zama, Ana Lucia and Normando. Walter Silva is reporter. Pianist Joao Donato returns to Brazil after a long stay in the USA. He records an LP with Tiao Neto, Milton Banana and Amaury. They do SAMBOU SAMBOU, MINHA SAUDADE, OLHOU PRA MIM, CAMINHA DE CASA and TIM DOM DOM. Elenco records starts recording Vinicius and Odete Lara, Lucio Alves, Roberto Menescal and Baden Powell with Jimmy Pratt, accompanied by Caterina Valente, who was on an excursion to Brazil. Elenco was created by producer Aloysio de Oliveira, where during a period of four years it produced 60 bossa nova albums. Those contracted by Elenco were Sylvia Telles, Chris Conner, Sergio Ricardo, Maysa, Tom Jobim, Nara Leao, Baden Powell, Lennie Dale, Lucio Alves, Roberto Menescal, Dick Farney and Edu Lobo.

Vinicius and Baden record BERIMBAU, DEIXA, LABAREDA, O ASTRONAUTA and SAMBA DA BENCAO, with arrangements of Moacyr Santos. Laurindo Almeida is having great success with his album Viva Bossa Nova in America. Tamba Trio (Luiz Eca, Bebeto and Helcio), record BATIDA DIFERENTE, INFLUENCA DO JAZZ, O BARQUINHO, QUEM QUISER ENCONTRAR O AMOR, NOS E O MAR and AI SE EU PUDESSE. Herbie Mann comes to Brazil and performs bossa nova.

1963

Tom Jobim records for Verve records in New York (a Creed Taylor production), with arrangements by Claus Ogerman and Edison Machado on drums. Included are GAROTA DE IPANEMA, AGUA DE BEBER, O MORRO NAO TEM VEZ and SO DANCA SAMBA. Tamba Trio does their second record Avanco, with Philips and records the first composition of Marcos Valle, SONHA DE MARIA. Jorge Ben records MAS QUE NADA, his second LP on Elenco. Also on Elenco, Sergio Ricardo sings ESSE MUNDO E MEU, and BARRAVENTO. Marcos Valle records VIVO SONHANDO, MOCA FLOR, SONHO DE MARIA, ILUSAO A TOA, A MORTE DE UM DEUS DE SAL, AMOR DE NADA and ELA E CARIOCA on Odeon label.

1964

Nara Leao records her first record for Elenco. Songs are BERIMBAU, CONSOLACAO, NANA, MARCHA DA 4a FEIRA DA CINZAS, DIZ QUE FUI POR AI, FEIO NAO E BONITA, LUZ NEGRA, MARIA MOITA and VOU POR AI. Baden also records his second LP, with BERIMBAU, O ASTRONAUTA, CONSOLACAO, and SORONGAIO. Zimbo Trio forms in Sao Paulo, with Hamilton Godoy, Luiz Chaves and Rubinho. They do their first show at the Oasis club. Aloysio de Oliveira launches another series of shows, this time at the Zum Zum bar. The first with Sylvia Telles, Roberto Menescal and his group, followed by Vinicius-Caymmi-Quarteto em Cy. Nara Leao, Edu Lobo, Tamba Trio, Quinteto Villa Lobos, Quarteto em Cy, MPB4, ending with Billy Blanco and Aracy de Almeida. Joao, Astrud and Stan Getz cut THE GIRL FROM IPANEMA on Verve.

Teatro Paramount in Sao Paulo puts on a show called O Fino Da Bossa, produced by Horacio Berlinck and Walter Silva. Participants at this show were Alaide Costa, Zimbo Trio, Paulinho Nogueira, Ana Lucia, Rosinha de Valenca, Jorge Ben, Wanda, Nara Leao, Oscar Castro Neves, Sergio Mendes, Luiz Henrique, Claudete Soares, Walter Wanderley, Geraldo Cunha, Marcos Valle, Edison Machado, and Os Cariocas. Alaide Costa sings the celebrated song, ONDE ESTA VOCE. Nara Leao records her first Philips label, with CHEGANCA, OPINIAO and O SOL NASCERA. This was a major success for bossa nova. Thousands showed up for this event. Bossa nova began to spread nationwide.

At the Teatro Vila Velha in Salvador, a series of spectacular shows with Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil and Maria Bethania were underway. Under the direction of Radames Gnatalli, the LP, Pobre Menina Rica is recorded by CBS with Carlos Lyra, Dulce Nunes, Thelma, Moacyr Santos and Catulo de Paiva. Songs are PRIMAVERA, MARIA MOITA and PAU DE ARARA. O Show Samba performed at the Teatro Paramount, with Paulinho Nogueira, Sergio Mendes, Nelson Cavaquinho, Oscar Castro Neves, Leny Andrade, Os Cariocas, Alaide Costa, Trio 3, Ana Lucia, Cartola, Ze Keti and Zimbo Trio. Marcos Valle records SAMBA DE VERAO for Odeon. Elis Regina appears at Bottles Bar in Rio. Several more shows at the Teatro Paramount, all done with great success. Guitarist sideman Neco makes another recording. Edu Lobo accompanied by the Tamba Trio records for Elenco, their first album. Songs are PRA DIZER ADEUS, BORANDA, ALELUIA, CHEGANCA, REZA and ARRASTAO. Geraldo Vandre records FICA MAL COM DEUS, MENINO DAS LARANJAS, TRISTEZA DE AMAR, BERIMBAU and SAMBA EM PRELUDIO for Audio Fidelity.

1965

Marcos Valle records PRECISO APRENDER A SER SO for Odeon. The show I Festival da Musica Popular Brasileira, produced by Solano Ribeiro is televised on TV Excelsior with Edu Lobo, Vinicius and Elis Regina. Nara Leao records her third album. Three more shows at the Teatro Paramount, with Elis Regina, Jair Rodrigues and The Jongo Trio. The show O Fino Da Bossa at the Paramount, appears on television starring Elis Regina, Jair Rodrigues, Zimbo Trio, Cyro Monteiro, Maria Odete, Nara Leao, Edu Lobo and Baden Powell. Elton Medeiros, Oscar Bigode and Paulinho da Viola record on Odeon label with the LP, Rosa De Ouro. The television show Jovem Guarda on the air Sunday afternoon, appears for the first time, with Wanderlea, Erasmos and Roberto Carlos. Stan Getz comes to Brazil, stops at TV Record. Joao Gilberto returns to Brazil and plays three numbers in the show, O Fino Da Bossa. One of them is EXALTACAO A MANGUEIRA.

1966

The II Festival Nacional da Musica Popular in TV Excelsior presents Geraldo Vandre, Tuca and Airto Moreira. The same shows appears on TV Record, where songs like DISPARADA, A BANDA, ENSAIO GERAL and UM DIA are heard. At Maracanazinho, the I Festival Internacional da Cancao is held, with numerous artists. Sergio Mendes launches his Brazil '66 sound. Bossa nova is losing ground and being slowly replaced with newer styles of music, such as Tropicalia. Names like Caetano Veloso, Gal Costa, Gilberto Gil, Maria Bethania, Milton Nascimento and Chico Buarque de Hollanda are appearing more often over the radio waves.

The United States had its own following in the '60's with important singers and musicians such as Sarah Vaughan, Paul Winter, Laurindo Almeida, Stan Kenton, Dave Brubeck, Bola Sete and Quincy Jones. Many other groups and countless musicians will be influenced by this style of music, and bossa nova is still being played around the world with new singers and musicians such as Joyce, Eliane Elias, Celso Fonseca, Marisa Monte, Raphael Rabello, Rosa Passos, Nilza Lessa, Yoshiro Nakamura, Leila Pinheiro, Ana Caram, Jane Duboc, Emilio Santiago,Paulo Bellinati, Luciano Souza, Yamandu Costa, Ithamara Koorax, 3 Na Bossa and Lisa Ono, to name a few.

Ref: Música Popular Brasileira

José Eduardo Homem de Mello

Obra publicada com a colaboração da

Editora da Universidade de São Paulo