Amoroso
João Gilberto
1977
Why This Album Matters
Released in 1977, Amoroso is an undeniable landmark in João Gilberto's discography, widely recognised as one of the most significant and mature works of his career. On this album, the bossa nova master reaches the pinnacle of his musical sophistication, presenting a style that expands the characteristic minimalism of his guitar and voice into an orchestral dimension, without losing the essence of his unique rhythm. The exquisite collaboration with German arranger Claus Ogerman results in an elegant sonic tapestry, where strings and orchestrations delicately intertwine with Gilberto's guitar and whispering vocals, creating an exuberant and introspective sound. The album not only reaffirms João Gilberto as the father of bossa nova, but also demonstrates his ability to reinterpret world music classics with his unique sensibility, solidifying his status as an artist of global reach.
João explores the international possibilities and sings in English, Italian and Spanish with that characteristic accent of his, capable of softening the potential harshness of any language.
Marcus Preto · Rolling Stone Brasil
Context
By 1977, João Gilberto was already a living legend of Brazilian and world music. Two decades prior, in 1957, he had revolutionised music by creating the iconic 'beat' and, with the release of Chega de Saudade, established the foundations of bossa nova, a movement that transformed samba into a sophisticated and intimate whisper. After a long period dedicated to his international career, with stints in New York, Paris, and Mexico City, Gilberto had found his musical 'home' in the United States by the mid-70s. However, in Brazil, the musical scene of the time, dominated by protest songs against the military dictatorship, had caused his romantic compositions and sophisticated harmonies to lose some of their national prominence. Amoroso, therefore, marked his triumphant and successful return to the Brazilian charts.
Recording
The recording process for Amoroso took place between November 1976 and January 1977, in renowned studios in the United States. Initial sessions were held at Rosebud Studios, New York, from 17 to 19 November 1976, and complemented at Capitol Records, Hollywood, from 3 to 7 January 1977. Album production was handled by the duo Tommy LiPuma and Helen Keane, with LiPuma having previously won a Grammy for his work on George Benson's "This Masquerade". Arrangements and orchestral conducting were entrusted to German maestro Claus Ogerman, a frequent collaborator with big names in jazz and MPB, who had previously worked with Antônio Carlos Jobim on the album Urubu (1976). The team of musicians included João Gilberto (vocals and guitar), Jim Hughart (bass), Grady Tate and Joe Correro (drums), and Ralph Grierson (keyboards), with sound engineering and mixing by Al Schmitt. Ogerman conceived the arrangements not as mere adornment, but as an intricate 'interplay of inner and opposing voices', which complemented and elevated Gilberto's performance.
Songs
Amoroso comprises eight meticulously selected tracks, which demonstrate João Gilberto's versatility and interpretive mastery. The album features four compositions by the master Antônio Carlos Jobim: "Wave", "Caminhos Cruzados", "Triste", and "Zingaro", the latter also known as "Retrato em Branco e Preto". An innovation in Gilberto's repertoire was the inclusion of three foreign songs, something unprecedented in his discography until then. He interprets George Gershwin's classic "'S Wonderful", sung in English; "Estate" by the Italian Bruno Martino; and the bolero "Bésame Mucho" by the Mexican Consuelo Velazquez, sung in Spanish. His interpretations of these songs, despite a sometimes noticeable accent, are described as 'divine' and filled with a contained, yet profoundly touching emotion, as in the case of "Estate", considered one of the great moments in popular music. The version of "'S Wonderful" became a reference point, with Ogerman's arrangement perfectly adapting the jazz standard to the bossa nova swing.
Recorded partly in November 1976, at the significant Rosebud studio in New York, and partly in January 1977, at Capitol in Hollywood, João Gilberto's Amoroso (Warner) is a totem for the singer who shaped bossa nova and created a new musical posture that would influence everyone from Gal Costa to Diana Krall.
Tárik de Souza · 300 Discos Importantes
Legacy
Amoroso solidified its status as an essential album in Brazilian and world music, being recognised by various institutions and publications. In 2007, it was elected by Rolling Stone Brasil magazine as the 56th greatest album in Brazilian music. Its excellence was also noted internationally, receiving a Grammy Awards nomination in 1978 in the 'Best Jazz Vocal Performance' category. The album's success was crucial for João Gilberto's return to the Brazilian music scene, marking a new period of recognition in his home country. The song "Wave", for example, was included in the soundtrack of TV Globo's soap opera "Água Viva" in 1980, extending its reach. Amoroso's influence is so immense that Claus Ogerman's arrangements for songs such as "'S Wonderful" served as inspiration for other renowned artists, like Diana Krall, in their own interpretations. The album is frequently cited by critics and fans as one of the high points of Gilberto's career, with high ratings on specialised platforms.
Rankings
Tracks
Credits
Claus Ogerman
Helen Keane, Tommy LiPuma
Jim Hughart
Israel Baker
Frank DeCaro
Grady Tate, Joe Correro
João Gilberto
Ralph Grierson
Geoffrey Holder
Don Henderson
Eric Bowman
Al Schmitt
Ed Thrasher
Noel Newbolt
Richard Seireeni, Rod Dyer, Inc.
Hirosuke Doi
Podcasts
Coleção de Vinil · Fabricio Dutra
Episódio 8 - Amoroso - Curiosidades sobre a gravação deste álbum que é considerado uma obra prima de João Gilberto.
Educadora FM Bahia · A rádio pública da Bahia!
Um dos grandes eventos culturais de 2021 é destaque desta terça (09): um livro sobre um nome fundamental da nossa música, que Zuza Homem de Mello concluiu quatro dias antes de morrer. "Amoroso: Uma Biografia de João Gilberto" foi lançado pela Companhia das Letras graças aos esforços da viúva do escritor e grande colaboradora, Ercilia Lobo, que vai comentar os bastidores da obra.
Videos
"Amoroso" - João Gilberto | Os melhores discos da MPB nos anos 70 | Alta Fidelidade
Alta Fidelidade
3000 Best Albums [1919] João Gilberto - Amoroso (1977) Dan's Mini Album Review
Dan's Mini Album Reviews
Films
Books
The 500 Greatest Brazilian Albums of All Time
Ricardo Alexandre · 2022
The election was spearheaded by journalist Ricardo Alexandre, creator of the Discoteca Básica podcast. Ricardo consulted 162 specialists including journalists, YouTubers, podcasters, musicians, record-shop owners and producers. The result was published as a 200-page hardcover book, with graphic design by Fernando Pires.
Amoroso
Zuza Homem de Mello · 2021
A vida e a obra do criador da bossa nova, revisitadas por um de nossos maiores pesquisadores musicais. Já não restam superlativos para caracterizar a música de João Gilberto. Com sua voz e seu violão inigualáveis, o criador da bossa nova foi reverenciado no mundo inteiro — até nos deixar, aos 88 anos. O livro, cujo título homônimo ao álbum de 1977 aponta para um período crucial de sua carreira, se aprofunda na trajetória do artista.
300 Important Albums of Brazilian Music
Charles Gavin, Tárik de Souza, Carlos Calado, Arthur Dapieve · 2008
Conceived by Titãs drummer and musical researcher Charles Gavin, the 434-page book brings together covers and reviews of albums released between 1929 and 2007. The texts were written by journalists Tárik de Souza, Arthur Dapieve and Carlos Calado.
Analyses
Amoroso – Wikipedia
Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
Amoroso – The 100 Greatest Albums of Brazilian Music
Marcus Preto · Rolling Stone Brasil
Álbum gravado em Nova York com arranjos de cordas criados pelo alemão Claus Ogerman – maestro que acompanhava Tom Jobim em discos desde 1963. João explora as possibilidades internacionais e canta em inglês (“S Wonderful”), italiano (“Estate”) e espanhol (“Besame Mucho”) com aquele seu sotaque característico, capaz de amaciar as possíveis durezas de qualquer idioma. Do cancioneiro brasileiro, escolheu “Wave”, “Caminhos Cruzados”, “Triste” e “Retrato em Branco e Preto” – todas de Jobim. Mais universal, impossível.
Amoroso, o disco de João Gilberto para uma ilha deserta | VEJA
veja.abril.com.br
O disco Amoroso, que João Gilberto gravou nos Estados Unidos em 1977, é, exageros a parte, um dos melhores álbuns já lançados, em todos os tempos, por qualquer artista.
MUSICA&SOM: João Gilberto - "Amoroso" (1977)
tabernanovostempos.blogspot.com
Mas talvez todos estes exemplos tenham servido de embasamento para um produto ainda mais bem acabado: "Amoroso", de João Gilberto. O disco, lançado pelo mestre baiano em 1977 e considerado por muitos sua obra-prima, consegue aglutinar os melhores elementos legados por todos os artistas da bossa-nova - inclusive o próprio João ...
João Gilberto - Amoroso (1977) | Altamont
altamont.pt
Amoroso é um disco perfeito. Se julga que exageramos, é porque nunca se apaixonou. Nem por ele, nem por ninguém. Agora imagine o que anda a perder… Os exageros, as hipérboles, sejam elas mais ou menos poéticas, fazem parte do discurso dos amantes.
Discogs
Amoroso – Discogs
discogs.com