Wave
Tom Jobim
1967
Why This Album Matters
Wave, released in 1967, is maestro Antônio Carlos Jobim's fifth studio album and represents one of the pillars of bossa nova, being considered by many one of his unquestionable masterpieces. This instrumental album, with the notable exception of "Lamento", where Jobim himself lends his gentle voice, encapsulates the essence of the fusion between the delicacy of samba and the sophisticated harmonies of cool jazz, a sound that Jobim helped to internationalise and consolidate. The sound of Wave is built upon a foundation of Jobim's piano and guitar, adorned with exquisite and delicate orchestrations conceived by Claus Ogerman. The album's atmosphere is described as one of poignant sophistication, at once light and lively, but also sensual, characteristics that define bossa nova's enduring appeal. The album stands out for featuring ten original compositions, many of which would become classics, and demonstrates Jobim's genius in creating soundscapes that evoke the beauty and nostalgia of Rio de Janeiro.
Wave is the coronation of a myth.
Antônio do Amaral Rocha · Rolling Stone Brasil
Context
By 1967, Antônio Carlos Jobim had already achieved international superstar status. Driven by the success of his partnership on *Getz/Gilberto* (1964) and, notably, by the global success of "Garota de Ipanema", which earned him a Grammy in 1965, Jobim was a central figure in popularising bossa nova worldwide. His previous collaboration with Stan Getz and, in the same year of 1967, with Frank Sinatra on the album *Francis Albert Sinatra & Antônio Carlos Jobim*, cemented his reputation as one of the most important Latin American composers of the 20th century. During this period, Jobim frequently resided in the United States, where the fusion of samba's subtle pulse with the harmonic progressions of cool jazz found a lasting niche in popular music. He valued recording studios more than touring, seeing the first recording of a song as the "seed" for its growth. Wave was an opportunity for Jobim to plant ten new "seeds" in the market, further consolidating his legacy as the principal architect of bossa nova.
Recording
Wave was recorded at the legendary Van Gelder Studio, in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, United States, during sessions held between 22 and 24 May and 15 June 1967. Production was handled by Creed Taylor, known for his work with various jazz and bossa nova artists, while sound engineering was carried out by the renowned Rudy Van Gelder. The arrangements and orchestral conducting were masterfully executed by Claus Ogerman, a frequent collaborator of Jobim, who created lush and expansive soundscapes, utilising a full string, brass, and woodwind section. Jobim contributed on piano, guitar, and harpsichord, and the album featured the participation of elite jazz musicians, including trombonists Urbie Green and Jimmy Cleveland, flautist Jerome Richardson, and bassist Ron Carter. The rhythm section also included percussionists Bobby Rosengarden and Dom Um Romão, with Claudio Slon on drums, contributing to the rich and sophisticated sound of the record.
Songs
The album Wave is predominantly instrumental, showcasing Jobim's compositional mastery through lyrical melodies and complex harmonies. Of the ten tracks, all are compositions by Antônio Carlos Jobim, with the exception of "Lamento", which is a partnership with Vinicius de Moraes from 1956, originally titled "Lamento no Morro" and written for the play *Orfeu da Conceição*. "Lamento" is the only track on the album where Jobim sings, with his soft, restrained voice, interspersed with piano motifs. Other notable tracks include "Antigua", which benefits from the distinct sound of the harpsichord played by Jobim, and "Captain Bacardi", which features interesting rhythmic variations over a repeated melody. The tracks "Wave" and "Triste", in particular, became hits and later gained English lyrics written by Jobim himself, solidifying them as jazz and bossa nova standards. Jobim's songs frequently explored themes of love, self-discovery, and the natural beauties of Brazil, elements intrinsic to the poetics of bossa nova.
Legacy
Wave achieved notable commercial and critical success, reaching position 114 on the Billboard 200 chart and attaining the 5th spot among jazz albums in the United States. Its relevance was re-affirmed in 2007 when Rolling Stone Brasil magazine included it at position 92 on its list of the "100 Maiores Discos da Música Brasileira". The album was also recognised by Guitar Player magazine on its list "The 40 Greatest Guitar Albums Of 1967". The title track, "Wave", became a bossa nova and jazz standard, having been recorded by approximately 500 jazz artists and voted the 73rd greatest Brazilian song by the Brazilian edition of Rolling Stone. Wave not only consolidated Tom Jobim's position as one of the greatest composers of the 20th century, but also influenced generations of musicians, solidifying bossa nova as a globally recognised and imitated musical genre, being considered a "very modern and sophisticated" album for its time.
Rankings
Tracks
Podcasts
Músicas e suas Histórias · Músicas e Suas Histórias
Conheça a história da canção Wave, de Tom Jobim e Vinícius de Moraes, do ano de 1967, gravada em 1975, na voz e violão de João Gilberto. Saiba a contribuição de Chico Buarque nessa canção típica da Bossa Nova! Bom Entretenimento! Paulo Arruda.Gostou?Para saber mais acesse o Canal do YouTube: Músicas e Suas Histórias:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBbOHBkyr3Aj5ITUqG_gADw/featured
Videos
Antonio Carlos Jobim - Wave (Episode 143)
Ten-Minute Record Reviews
REVIEW: Star Laser Ocean Wave Light Projector Speaker (Bluetooth + Wi-Fi)
OSReviews
Books
Analyses
Wave – Wikipedia
Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
Wave – The 100 Greatest Albums of Brazilian Music
Antônio do Amaral Rocha · Rolling Stone Brasil
Escolhido pela revistaGuitar Playercomo um dos 40 álbuns mais importantes lançados no mercado americano nos últimos 40 anos,Waveé a coroação de um mito. Tom Jobim toca piano e violão acompanhado de músicos de peso como Ron Carter (baixo), Dom Um Romão, Bobby Rosengarden e Claudio Slon (baterias), Joseph Singer (trompa) Ray Beckenstein, Romeo Penque, Jerome Richardson (flautas), Urbie Green e Jimmy Cleveland (trombones). “Wave” – para citar apenas uma faixa do disco – é até hoje uma das músicas mais executadas no mundo.
G. Álbuns: Tom Jobim | Wave (1967) - Na Mira do Groove
namiradogroove.com.br
Wave é um disco que não sai da esfera muito bem pincelada por Jobim naquele momento. Um dos poucos exemplos em que ele se permite sair desse eixo podemos ouvir em "Antígua": a sonoridade do harpsicord garantiu efeitos que o fazem flertar com a world music.
Discogs
Wave – Discogs
discogs.com