Quotes
Once the bossa nova started to take off, Stan Getz took full advantage of his position as an early enthusiast. His next project was Big Band Bossa Nova, a 17-piece swing band playing the bossa nova-styled arrangements of Gary McFarland.
By 1963, bossa nova was in full swing. Several of the original bossa musicians had relocated to the U.S.; some of them at the urging of Stan Getz, who then began his so-called Brazilian Trilogy: collaborations with Louis Bonfá, João Gilberto (both of which included songs and guitar playing by Antônio Carlos Jobim) and Laurindo Almeida. All three LPs were recorded in February and March 1963 as the sales for Jazz Samba were peaking, but the releases were staggered. Jazz Samba Encore was a blatant attempt for more bossa nova magic, with the added attraction of real Brazilians (Bonfa and Jobim) and a female vocalist on four tracks. It sold respectably. However, Getz/Gilberto struck gold, driven by the "Girl From Ipanema" hit single, sung by Astrud Gilberto. The album spent 96 weeks on the Top Album chart, two of them at the Number Two position—deprived of the top spot by The Beatles. The album also netted Getz the "Album of the Year" Grammy Award for 1964.
Brazilian Music Day, The ARChive of Contemporary Music, September 7, 2012.