Verve raids its considerable store of classic bossa nova for this edition of the ballad-centric Jazz 'Round Midnight series. With its lilting beat and seraphic melodies, the music is tailor-made for a night of languid swing. And with the likes of jazz/bossa nova purveyors
Stan Getz and
Cal Tjader on hand, the fare is never less than excellent. Kicking off with a fine "Corcovado" compliments of singing duo
Jackie & Roy, the mix wends through four
Getz cuts (two with
Charlie Byrd, one with
Luiz Bonfa, and one with
João Gilberto from the duly famous
Getz &
Gilberto album) and one track each from
Tjader,
Dizzy Gillespie, and
Kenny Burrell; and on the Brazilian end,
Astrud Gilberto,
Bonfa, and
Antonio Carlos Jobim represent in predictably fine fashion. The backdrop of choice for all those white-tux-by-the-pool affairs. ~ Stephen Cook