Bossa nova is a style of Brazilian music originated in the wealthy neighborhoods, along the beaches of the city of Rio de Janeiro. João Gilberto is known as the “Father of Bossa Nova”. His recordings, including many songs by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes, established the new musical genre in the late 1950s. Bossa nova compositions often spoke of love, the beach, and beautiful women. The musical style evolved from samba but is more complex harmonically and less percussive. In terms of harmonic structure, bossa nova has a great deal in common with jazz. The first bossa nova single to achieve international popularity was perhaps the most successful of all time, the Getz/Gilberto recording “The Girl From Ipanema“.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h__ldWPnpXc]