Antonio Carlos Jobim Stone Flower (LP, 180g Vinyl)

(Speakers Corner) 9 tracks, gatefold cover, 180g vinyl

Almost everything seemed to be said about Bossa Nova, when around 1970 the scene looked back on two decades of music style from the synthesis of Samba and Cool Jazz elements. Experimental musicians like Luis Bonfa, Baden Powell, Charly Byrd, João and Astrud Gilberto and the saxophonist Stan Getz gave the 'new thing' fire and sentiment. First and foremost is Carlos Antonio Jobim, who sent his catchy tunes like the ticking and pushing piece "Desafinado" and the ingeniously monotonous "One Note Samba" on a world tour.

That there was still much to be said for the man from Ipanema is shown by this album, which depicts Jobim's creative profile at the peak of his maturity. Already in the first track, in which Urbie Green on trombone sings about "Tereza My Love" in the purest and highest tones, it is noticeable that the late vintage of bossa structures the style-defining rhythm in a far more delicate way than the dance-feverish precociousness. As it were with shining gold and silver threads the melodies are rhythmically woven around, condensed sound waves remain gossamer and delicate. And yet the actors also let the samba horses off the leash when it crisply thumps in the Latin classic "Brazil".

Sound wizard Deodato as arranger and conductor and Rudy van Gelder at the audio technology round this LP to a masterpiece of the Bossa repertoire, which should really say it all.