Antonio Carlos Jobim

When you immerse yourself in the music of Antonio Carlos Jobim, you encounter a sound that transports you directly to the coasts of Brazil. His way of composing, influenced by the delicacy of Claude Debussy and Frédéric Chopin, intertwines uniquely with the energy of samba and the harmonies of cool jazz. At the piano, his style is melodic and direct, similar to that of Claude Thornhill, but without losing the spark of invention. On the guitar, he dedicates himself to a smooth accompaniment that enhances the syncopated rhythms of jazz, while his voice, warm and with a slightly raspy touch, highlights the emotion behind each lyric. It is this combination of influences, along with his ability to create unforgettable melodies like «Garota de Ipanema», that made him a key figure for bossa nova to cross borders.

Before dedicating himself fully to music, Jobim trained as an architect. However, around the age of twenty, music called to him strongly. He began playing in nightclubs and working in recording studios, taking his first formal steps in 1954 accompanying the singer Bill Farr. A crucial moment arrived in 1956 when he collaborated with the poet Vinicius de Moraes on the music for the play Orfeo da Conceição. Shortly after, in 1958, his distinctive bossa nova style was consolidated when guitarist and singer João Gilberto recorded some of his compositions, marking the official birth of the genre with Chega de saudade.