Jobim, Antonio Carlos

born Jan. 25, 1927, Rio de Janeiro, Braz.

died Dec. 8, 1994, New York, N.Y., U.S.

Brazilian songwriter and composer.

He performed on guitar and piano in Rio de Janeiro clubs before becoming music director of Odeon Records. In 1959 he and Luís Bonfá composed the score for the film Black Orpheus, and his worldwide success soon followed. He transformed samba music into bossa nova ("new wrinkle" or "new wave"), a fusion of understated samba pulse (quiet percussion, unamplified guitars playing subtly complex rhythms), gentle singing, and the melodic and sophisticated harmonies of cool jazz; the style found a long-lasting niche in popular music. He collaborated with Frank Sinatra, Stan Getz, and Astrud Gilberto, and he also composed classical works and film scores. His more than 400 songs include "One-Note Samba," "Meditation," and "The Girl from Ipanema."

* * *

▪ 1995

      Brazilian songwriter and composer (b. Jan. 25, 1927, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil-d. Dec. 8, 1994, New York, N.Y.), transformed the extroverted rhythms of the Brazilian samba into an intimate music, the bossa nova ("new wrinkle" or "wave"), which became internationally popular in the 1960s. A guitarist and pianist since boyhood, he performed in Rio clubs before becoming music director of Odeon Records. In 1958 João Gilberto's recording of Jobim's song "Chega de Saudade" ("No More Blues") was released. The record was a hit in Brazil, and in 1959 Jobim and Luís Bonfá became noted for their score for Orfeo negro (Black Orpheus), which won an Academy Award as best foreign film. Jobim's worldwide success soon followed. He maintained a second home in the U.S., where bossa nova's fusion of understated samba pulse (quiet percussion, unamplified guitars playing subtly complex rhythms), gentle singing (Jobim often worked with lyricist Vinícius de Morais), and the melodic and sophisticated harmonies of cool jazz found a long-lasting niche in popular music. He appeared at Carnegie Hall in 1962 with his leading jazz interpreters, tenor saxophonist Stan Getz and guitarist Charlie Byrd; collaborated on the Frank Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim and Getz/Gilberto albums; recorded albums under his own name; and composed classical works and film scores. Hundreds of performers recorded his more than 400 songs, including "Samba de uma nota só" ("One-Note Samba"), "Desafinado" ("Slightly out of Tune"), "Meditaçao" ("Meditation"), "Corcovado" ("Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars"), "Garota de Ipanema" ("The Girl from Ipanema"), "Wave," and "Dindi."

* * *

▪ Brazilian composer and musician

born January 25, 1927, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

died December 8, 1994, New York, New York, U.S.

      Brazilian songwriter and composer who transformed the extroverted rhythms of the Brazilian samba into an intimate music, the bossa nova (“new wrinkle” or “new wave”), which became internationally popular in the 1960s.

      A guitarist and pianist since boyhood, Jobim performed in Rio clubs before becoming music director of Odeon Records, one of the largest record companies in Brazil. In 1958 he began collaborating with singer-guitarist João Gilberto, whose recording of Jobim's song "Chega de Saudade" (1958; "No More Blues" ) became a hit in Brazil and helped popularize bossa nova. In 1959 Jobim and Luís Bonfá became noted for their score for Orfeo negro (Black Orpheus), which won an Academy Award for best foreign film. By the early 1960s, Jobim's music was being played around the world.

      Jobim maintained a second home in the United States, where bossa nova's fusion of understated samba pulse (quiet percussion, unamplified guitars playing subtly complex rhythms), gentle singing (Jobim often worked with lyricist Vinícius de Morais), and the melodic and sophisticated harmonies of cool jazz found a long-lasting niche in popular music. In 1962 he appeared at Carnegie Hall with his leading jazz interpreters, tenor saxophonist Stan Getz (Getz, Stan) and guitarist Charlie Byrd. Jobim collaborated on such albums as Getz/Gilberto (1963) and Frank Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim (1967), as well as recording under his own name. Notable solo albums include Jobim (1972) and A Certain Mr. Jobim (1965). He also composed classical works and film scores. In addition, hundreds of performers recorded his more than 400 songs, including "Samba de uma nota só" ( "One-Note Samba" ), "Desafinado" ( "Slightly Out of Tune" ), "Meditação" ( "Meditation" ), "Corcovado" ( "Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars" ), "Garota de Ipanema" ( "The Girl from Ipanema" ), "Wave," and "Dindi."

* * *