Laurindo Almeida on guitar, Charlie Byrd on guitar, Joe Byrd on bass, and Chuck Redd on drums. CD

Joined by Laurindo Almeida and Carlos Barbosa-Lima on guitar, Scott Pelowski on clarinet and tenor saxophone, Scott Hamilton on tenor saxophone, Bud Shank on alto saxophone and many others. CD

One of the best of the Stan Getz bossa nova sessions – and a record that features the great Laurindo Almeida on guitar – playing with more virtuosity than either Charlie Byrd or Joao Gilberto did on their collaborations with Getz! The record's got a driving rhythm section, with lots of long tracks, and nice laid-back solos by both Getz and Almeida – who's getting in some of his few jazz licks of the 60s here, working in a groove similar to that of his earlier sides with Bud Shank, but which sounds almost even better in the languid company of Getz. Cuts include "Outra Vez", "Winter Moon", "Maracatu-Too", and "Samba Da Sahra". CD

A landmark set of recordings cut for the Pacific Jazz label in the early 50s, and supposedly a major influence on the early bossa artists in Brazil! The tracks were cut by a quartet led by LA altoist Bud Shank, and featuring Brazilian guitarist Laurindo Almeida, who was living in LA at the time. The mix of alto and guitar, in a jazzy vien, but with Latiny rhythms, is very similar to the early bossa jazz recordings – and even more so to the later American ones by Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd. Supposedly, original 10" LPs of the material made their way to Brazil, and later influenced Jobim and Gilberto. Titles on this one include "Nono", "Noctambulism", "Blue Baiao", "Hazardous", and "Tocata". LP, Vinyl record album

Landmark set of recordings cut for the Pacific Jazz label in the early 50s, and supposedly a major influence on the early bossa artists in Brazil! The tracks were cut by a quartet led by LA altoist Bud Shank, and featuring Brazilian guitarist Laurindo Almeida, who was living in LA at the time. The mix of alto and guitar, in a jazzy vein, but with Latiny rhythms, is very similar to the early bossa jazz recordings – and even more so to the later American ones by Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd. Supposedly, original 10" LPs of the material made their way to Brazil, and later influenced Jobim and Gilberto. Although we can't confirm that rumor entirely, you'll sure hear a similarity, and even if you don't, the stuff's still pretty darn great. Titles include "Terra Seca", "Amor Flamenco", "Atabaque", "No No", "Noctambulism", "Tocata", and "Carinoso". 15 cuts in all. CD

A record that adds in some sweet alto sax, courtesy of Bud Shank – played with all the great bossa tones that Bud brought to older work with guitarists like Laurindo Almeida and Joe Pass! The album's got a relatively spare setting – Shank on alto, Byrd on guitar, Joe Byrd on bass, and Charles Redd on drums – and titles include "Zingaro", "Speak Low", "Brazilville", "What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life", and "Saquarema". CD

A really really wonderful little record – one that's far more than you might guess from it's slightly gimmicky title! The session's clearly done in a mode to resonate with the Charlie Byrd or Stan Getz bossa work of the early 60s, but it's also got a slightly offbeat quality that makes it really unique – a sound that partly comes from the use of three guitars by three relatively different players, and from the way that the tunes themselves are put together. There's almost a jam session feel at times here – with the guitars coming together in a tension of different voices, hardly the sort of thing you'd hear in a regular bossa album. But equally great is the tenor sax work of Bob Enevoldsen – which comes in with a sharper edge and a bit more soul than his 50s sides – creating a deeper quality to the tunes that's really great. Percussion is by a trio that includes Milt Holland, Bob Neel, and Chico Guerrero – and Donn Trenner plays piano and Bob Bertaux is on bass. Titles include "I Told Ya I Love Ya Now Get Out", "Sweet Dreams", "Bossa Nova #2", "Bossa Nova Samba", and "Leave It To Me". CD

One of the best of the Stan Getz bossa nova sessions – and a record that features the great Laurindo Almeida on guitar – playing with more virtuosity than either Charlie Byrd or Joao Gilberto did on their collaborations with Getz! The record's got a driving rhythm section, with lots of long tracks, and nice laid-back solos by both Getz and Almeida – who's getting in some of his few jazz licks of the 60s here, working in a groove similar to that of his earlier sides with Bud Shank, but which sounds almost even better in the languid company of Getz. Cuts include "Outra Vez", "Winter Moon", "Maracatu-Too", and "Samba Da Sahra". Very nice! CD

A pretty darn great set that captures bits from all of Stan Getz's bossa nova recordings for Verve! The set's got a whopping 4 CDs, and it features Getz working with the likes of Joao Gilberto, Luiz Bonfa, Charlie Byrd, Gary McFarland, Laurindo Almeida, Astrud Gilberto, and Antonio Carlos Jobim. Includes some unreleased versions of bossa tunes, plus a huge amount of other great stuff – like "Ebony Samba", "Baia", "Samba Triste", "O Pato", "Samba Dees Days", "Sambalero", "Eu E Voce", "Winter Moon", "Menina Moca", "Vivo Sonhando", and "Para Machuchar Meu Coracoa". CD

A pretty darn great set that captures bits from all of Stan Getz's bossa nova recordings for Verve! The set's got a whopping 5LPs, and it features Getz working with the likes of Joao Gilberto, Luiz Bonfa, Charlie Byrd, Gary McFarland, Laurindo Almeida, Astrud Gilberto, and Antonio Carlos Jobim. Includes some unreleased versions of bossa tunes, plus a huge amount of other great stuff – like "Ebony Samba", "Baia", "Samba Triste", "O Pato", "Samba Dees Days", "Sambalero", "Eu E Voce", "Winter Moon", "Menina Moca", "Vivo Sonhando", and "Para Machuchar Meu Coracoa". Easy to find on CD – but darn tough to find on vinyl! LP, Vinyl record album