Antonio Carlos Jobim

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Antônio Carlos Jobim

Background information
Birth name Antônio Carlos Brasileiro de Almeida Jobim
Also known as Tom Jobim
Born January 25, 1927
Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Origin Rio de Janeiro
Died December 8, 1994
New York City, New York, United States
Genre(s) Bossa Nova, MPB
Occupation(s) Musician, composer, songwriter, singer
Instrument(s) Piano, guitar
Years active 1956 - 1994
Associated
acts
João Gilberto, Astrud Gilberto, Stan Getz, Frank Sinatra

Antônio Carlos Brasileiro de Almeida Jobim (January 25, 1927 in Rio de JaneiroDecember 8, 1994 in New York City), or Tom Jobim (as he is fondly known in his home country), was a Brazilian composer, arranger, singer, pianist/guitarist and one of the primary forces behind the creation of bossa nova, and its subsequent global popularity.

Jobim's compositions, known for their exquisite melodies and harmonies, have been performed by numerous notable performers both within Brazil and internationally.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Musical roots

Jobim's musical roots were planted firmly in the works of Pixinguinha, a legendary musician and composer who, in the 1930s, began the development of modern Brazilian music. Jobim was also influenced by the music of French Impressionist composer Claude Debussy and by jazz music.

[edit] Early career

Jobim found prominence in Brazil when he teamed up with poet and diplomat Vinicius de Moraes to provide the music for the play Orfeu de Conceição (1956). The most popular song from the show was Se Todos Fossem Iguais A Você ('Someone to Light Up My Life'). Later, when the play was turned into a film, French producer Sacha Gordine did not want to use any of the existing music from the play. Gordine asked de Moraes and Jobim for a new score for the film Black Orpheus (1959). Vinicius was at the time away in Montevideo, Uruguay, working for the Itamaraty (the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and so he and Jobim were only able to write three songs, primarily over the telephone (A Felicidade, Frevo,and O Nosso Amor).

[edit] Famous works

This collaboration was successful and Vinicius went on to pen the lyrics to some of Jobim's most popular songs. The arranger/conductor/composer Claus Ogerman arranged many of Jobim's memorable tunes, as did Eumir Deodato.[1] Jobim acquired international fame with the release of the Grammy Award-winning album Getz/Gilberto (1963), featuring the international hit "The Girl from Ipanema" sung by Astrud Gilberto. Jobim composed many other acclaimed albums afterwards (see list below).

[edit] Collaborators and performers of Jobim's music

Key collaborators and interpreters of Jobim's music include João Gilberto, (who is often credited along with Jobim as a co-creator of bossa nova), Gal Costa, Elis Regina, Sergio Mendes, Astrud Gilberto, Stan Getz and Frank Sinatra. Various tributes have been paid to Jobim and his body of work and influence by jazz musicians as well as pop performers. For example, American jazz singers Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra prominently featured Jobim's songs on their albums Ella Abraça Jobim (1981) and Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim (1967), respectively. Recent works such as Wave: The Antonio Carlos Jobim Songbook (1996) included performances by the likes of Oscar Peterson, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea and Toots Thielemans. Other notable jazz artists who have performed Jobim songs include Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney, and Diana Krall. Pop singers, such as Sting and George Michael, have also recorded Jobim songs. Contemporary jazz performers, such as Jane Monheit, continue to record Jobim's songs (Monheit sang Waters of March on her CD Come Dream With Me). Carlos Santana performed Stoneflower on his Caravanserai album.

[edit] Legacy

Jobim is recognised the world over as one of the most influential composers of the 20th century. He was musically productive right up to his death as a result of heart failure on December 8, 1994. His last album, Antonio Brasileiro, was released posthumously soon after.

Jobim is buried in the Cemitério São João Batista in Rio de Janeiro. The Galeão - Antônio Carlos Jobim International Airport in Rio de Janeiro has its name appended in his honour.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Trivia

  • The late singer/songwriter Elliott Smith wrote a song entitled "Antonio Carlos Jobim" with his band Heatmiser for their Cop And Speeder album.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Red Bull Music Academy (2005) Eumir Deodato - Boy from Rio Pt. 1. Available from: http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/LECTURES.95.0.html?act_session=211. Accessed 6 December 2006.

[edit] References

  • McGowan, Chris; Pessanha, Ricardo (1998). The Brazilian Sound: Samba, Bossa Nova and the Popular Music of Brazil, 2nd edition, Philadelphia: Temple University Press. ISBN 1-56639-545-3, ISBN 1-56639-544-5. 
  • Castro, Ruy (2000). Bossa Nova: The Story of the Brazilian Music That Seduced the World, 1st English-Language Edition, Chicago, IL: A Capella Books. ISBN 1-55652-409-9. 

[edit] External links