Personnel: Astrud Gilberto (vocals); Joao Gilberto (vocals, guitar); Ant?nio Carlos Jobim (guitar, piano); Kenny Burrell (guitar); Dom Um Romao (berimbau); Bud Shank (flute, alto saxophone); Stan Getz (tenor saxophone); Stu Williamson (trumpet); Milt Bernhart (trombone); Bob Brookmeyer (valve trombone); Joao Donato (piano); Walter Wanderley (organ); Gary Burton (vibraphone); Claudio Slon , Joe Hunt , Milton Banana (drums); Bobby Rosengarden (percussion).
Audio Remasterers: Dennis Drake; Mark Wilder.
Liner Note Author: James Isaacs.
Recording information: Cafe Au Gogo, NY; Englewood Cliffs, NJ; Los Angeles, CA; New York, NY.
Unknown Contributor Role: Gil Evans.
Arrangers: Don Sebesky; Marty Paich.
Brazilian bossa nova princess Astrud Gilberto’s entry in Verve’s extensive Compact Jazz series of reissues is one of the best of her many compilations. COMPACT JAZZ focuses on her jazzier early work with Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto instead of her later, more pop-oriented solo records. The 16-track collection leans towards sambas, and bossa novas, though it also includes the occasional jazz standard such as “It Might As Well Be Spring,” performed in Gilberto’s “desafinado” (deliberately slightly off-pitch) vocal style. Her deadpan, childlike voice is one of the most unique and impressive in jazz, and COMPACT JAZZ displays it like a rare jewel. Selections range from her classic debut. “The Girl From Ipanema,” through such Brazilian gems as “Berimbau,” “Summer Samba,” and “Corcovado (Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars)” and the gorgeous closer, “How Insensitive.”

• Released: 1987-06-22
• Genre: Jazz
• Format: CD
• Format: CD
• Genre: JAZZ
• Released: 1987-06-22