One of the truly fun parts of our work with Brazilian music is that every once in a while we unearth a rare gem that deserves greater attention. Such is the case with director Walter Salles’ 1993 VHS video documentary, “Bossa Nova: Music & Reminiscences.”
This musical program takes us for a worldwide, whirlwind tour of Bossa’s influence and history, from the streets of Rio to the US, Europe and Japan. It includes rare archive video footage of the musicians who gave birth to Bossa Nova, as well as interviews and rare, previously unavailable concert performances by many of the music’s top names, including saxophonist Stan Getz (who performs “Corcovado”), the late great Frank Sinatra (singing “The Girl From Ipanema), singer Chico Buarque and trumpeter Chet Baker (on “Zigaro”). Caetano Veloso, Nana Vasconcelos, Paulinho de Viola, Sergio Mendes, Gilberto Gil and Henry Mancini also make appearances along with an exclusive, extended interview with Antonio Carlos Jobim himself.
Hosted by Gerry Mulligan, this video perfectly creates a true sense of the times, and historically documents many of the little known facts about the musicians who were shaping a fresh new sound for the world.
The film’s story starts with a review of Rio’s 1992 Carnaval celebration, featuring the city’s tribute to Bossa Nova. For its theme, the Mangueira Samba School decided to choose Antonio Carlos Jobim for its parade. The historical perspective becomes clear as the program unfolds with video clips of Joao Gilberto performing “Desafinado,” before whisking us off the Rio to recreate Bossa’s birth in the 1950’s.
What follows is an incredible collection of still photography, and did we mention the wealth of “lost” video footage, like Frank Sinatra’s televised duet with Jobim (playing guitar, because Sinatra thought that it looked more “Brazilian”) After their performance of “The Girl From Ipanema,” Jobim sits down with us in his studio to explain how the song came to be as we’re given a guided tour of the song’s international resume by Marina Lima, Michele Legrand.
There’s even CBS “Newsreel” footage of the 1962 Bossa Nova explosion- at Carnegie Hall, in the record stores, at the White House with the Kennedys.
To the best of our knowledge, this hour-long documentary has never been aired in the US, and has extremely limited availability on this side of the Atlantic. But our special purchase of this VHS video means that you can enjoy Bossa’s story for years to come.
