Amoroso
João Gilberto
1977
Rankings
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, singing 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.
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
Os 500 Maiores Álbuns Brasileiros de Todos os Tempos
Ricardo Alexandre · 2022
The largest Brazilian music election ever conducted: 162 specialists, spanning journalists, critics, musicians, producers and podcasters, each nominated 50 essential albums, supported by a masterlist of more than 2,000 works. Led by Ricardo Alexandre with tabulation by Sérgio Jomori, it was published in December 2022 as a 200-page hardcover book with graphic design by Fernando Pires.
Amoroso
Zuza Homem de Mello · 2021
The life and work of the creator of bossa nova, revisited by one of our greatest music researchers. There are no longer superlatives to characterise João Gilberto's music. With his unparalleled voice and guitar, the creator of bossa nova was revered worldwide — until he left us, at 88 years old. The book, whose title is eponymous with the 1977 album and points to a crucial period in his career, delves into the artist's trajectory.
300 Discos Importantes da Música Brasileira
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
João explores the international possibilities, singing in English, Italian and Spanish with that characteristic accent of his, capable of softening the potential harshness of any language.
Amoroso, o disco de João Gilberto para uma ilha deserta | VEJA
veja.abril.com.br
The album Amoroso, which João Gilberto recorded in the United States in 1977, is, all exaggeration aside, one of the best albums ever released, of all time, by any artist.
MUSICA&SOM: João Gilberto - "Amoroso" (1977)
tabernanovostempos.blogspot.com
But perhaps all these examples served as a basis for an even more polished product: "Amoroso", by João Gilberto. The album, released by the Bahian master in 1977 and considered by many to be his masterpiece, manages to bring together the best elements bequeathed by all bossa nova artists – including João himself...
João Gilberto - Amoroso (1977) | Altamont
altamont.pt
Amoroso is a perfect album. If you think we are exaggerating, it's because you've never fallen in love. Neither with him, nor with anyone else. Now imagine what you're missing out on... Exaggerations, hyperbole, whether more or less poetic, are part of lovers' discourse.
