Bossa Nova (Shorty Rogers album)

Reception

On All About Jazz Dave Rickert said: "Bossa Nova must have appeared fresh at the time—it was recorded in 1962, a year before the Brazilian music craze—but now seems buried in a pack of like-minded albums. Rogers did have the presence of mind to recruit a guitarist and a few percussionists to give the music an authentic flavor, and the music is earnestly played. However, bossa nova works best with a less rambunctious approach. Rogers never seemed capable of approaching anything delicately, and he overwhelms the melodies with brassy riffs. Not bad, but when you’re tempted to reach for a big band or a bossa nova record, Bossa Nova won’t come to mind in either case". On Allmusic, Scott Yanow noted: "The emphasis is on ensembles with occasional statements from Rogers but surprisingly little happens. The overall results are pleasant but a bit of a disappointment".

Track listing

All compositions by Shorty Rogers except where noted.

1. "Samba do Lorinho (Lorito's Samba)" - 2:07
2. "Chega de Saudade (No More Sadness)" (Antônio Carlos Jobim, Vinícius de Moraes) - 2:17
3. "Samba Triste (Melancholy Samba)" (Billy Blanco, Baden Powell) - 2:55
4. "Samba de Uma Nota So (One Note Samba)" (Jobim, Newton Mendonça) - 2:55
5. "Pao de Assucar (Sugar Loaf)" - 5:03
6. "Samba do Empashgi (Empashgi's Samba)" - 4:05
7. "O Amore E a Rosa (Love Is a Rose)" (João Pernambuco, Antônio Maria) - 3:04
8. "So Voce (Only You)" (Laurindo Almeida, Shorty Rogers) - 2:31
9. "Chora Tua Tristeza (Cry Your Sadness)" (Oscar Castro-Neves) - 3:23
10. "So Um Amor (Only One Love)" (Almeida, Rogers) - 1:47
11. "O Menino Desce O Morro (Little Brown Boy)" (Vera Brazil) - 2:25

Personnel