The Composer of Desafinado, Plays
Tom Jobim
1963
Why This Album Matters
The Composer of Desafinado, Plays marks Antônio Carlos Jobim's debut in the album universe, consolidating his presence in the American recording market. Released in 1963, the record is a celebration of the most refined bossa nova standards, presenting the compositions that would become Jobim's best-known and most frequently recorded, many of them genre-defining. This seminal work stands out for its intrinsic elegance and for the melodic and harmonic sophistication, striking characteristics of the maestro's work. The album offers an immersion into the gentle cadences and captivating melodies that established Jobim as one of the greatest composers of his generation, a sound experience that continues to charm listeners globally.
If the bossa nova movement had produced only this record, it would already be fully justified.
Antônio do Amaral Rocha · Rolling Stone Brasil
Context
The album's release occurred during a period of effervescence for bossa nova in the United States, where the genre enjoyed great popularity. Global hits like "Desafinado" and "Garota de Ipanema" had already paved the way, creating a favourable environment for the arrival of Jobim's first solo work on the international market, which capitalised on this growing enthusiasm.
Recording
The album's production was helmed by Creed Taylor, while the arrangements and conducting were undertaken by Claus Ogerman, significant figures in the music scene of the era. Antônio Carlos Jobim himself demonstrated his versatility by contributing piano and guitar, with the notable use of overdub for the guitar, a technique that allowed the sound texture of the work to be enriched.
Songs
The album's repertoire is a showcase of bossa nova classics, comprising the songs that even today rank among the most emblematic and recorded of Jobim's work. A notable particularity lies in the second track of the original LP version, which was erroneously identified as "O Morro", a mistake that would be corrected in the remastered CD editions.
"If bossa nova had only produced this album, it would already be more than justified," wrote critic Pete Welding of the American magazine Down Beat, which awarded it five stars.
Tárik de Souza · 300 Discos Importantes
Legacy
The impact of The Composer of Desafinado, Plays was lasting, culminating in its formal recognition years later. Critics of the time, already quite favourable, anticipated the prominent place the album would come to occupy. Its importance was officially sealed in 2001, when the work was honoured with inclusion in the Latin Grammy Hall of Fame, attesting to its enduring value in music history.
Rankings
Tracks
Credits
Claus Ogerman
Creed Taylor
Leo Wright
Antonio Carlos Jobim
Jimmy Cleveland
Val Valentin
Phil Ramone
Dom Cerulli
Chuck Stewart
Videos
Antonio Carlos Jobim – The Composer Plays Desafinado | Verve Vault AAA Vinyl Review
The Pressing Matters
3000 Best Albums [2865] Antônio Carlos Jobim - The Composer of Desafinado Plays (1963) Dan's Review
Dan's Mini Album Reviews
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.
Songbook Tom Jobim - vol. 1
Almir Chediak · 2016
Este volume, parte da aclamada série de songbooks de Almir Chediak, apresenta 40 canções de Tom Jobim, incluindo clássicos como 'A felicidade', 'Ana Luiza', 'Brigas nunca mais', 'Caminhos cruzados', 'Demais', 'Eu não existo sem você', 'Lamento no morro', 'Ligia', 'Luiza', e 'O morro não tem vez'. É uma compilação essencial para o estudo aprofundado das composições de Jobim, muitas das quais aparecem no álbum instrumental 'The Composer of Desafinado, Plays'.
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
The Composer of Desafinado, Plays – Wikipedia
Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
#25 - Antônio Carlos Jobim - The Composer of Desafinado, Plays (1963 ...
pressenza.com
The composer of Desafinado, plays (1963), de Tom Jobim, traz doze das composições mais relevantes e geniais da bossa nova. Jobim toca piano e violão, em uma linguagem econômica - em relação à quantidade de notas -, mas na medida certa para sua sublime expressão.
The Composer of Desafinado, Plays - Tom Jobim
bedoia.wixsite.com
Amantes da música brasileira que frequentam o Semeando Música, hoje nosso jardim sonoro floresce ao som de um clássico seminal: The Composer of Desafinado, Plays, primeiro álbum solo instrumental de Antônio Carlos Jobim, lançado em 1963.
#25 - Antônio Carlos Jobim - The Composer of Desafinado, Plays (1963 ...
tudooqueeutenhoadizersobremusica.blogspot.com
The composer of Desafinado, plays (1963), de Tom Jobim, traz doze das composições mais relevantes e geniais da bossa nova. Jobim toca piano e violão, em uma linguagem econômica - em relação à quantidade de notas -, mas na medida certa para sua sublime expressão.
Discogs
The Composer of Desafinado, Plays – Discogs
discogs.com