It's Antonio Carlos Jobim's birthday (January 25, 1927).

Antonio Carlos "Tom" Jobim

Jobim is one of the great exponents of Brazilian music. He internationalized bossa nova and, with the help of some American artists (e.g., Stan Getz, Charlie Byrd), merged it with jazz to standardize a new sound whose popular success endures. He's been called the George Gershwin of Brazil.

His "Girl from Ipanema" ("Garota de Ipanema"), one of the most recorded songs of all time, has been recorded over 240 times by other artists.

Click the album cover to see Astrud Gilberto sing her original rendition of this song with Stan Getz, tenor sax, and his trio backing her. 

Click the album cover to hear my favorite Jobim song, "Wave," performed by him live.

Click Jobim's photo to see him play a duet with collaborator, João Gilberto, on "Desafinado," another favorite. (In the vid Jobim plays piano.)

Click the album cover to play six bossa nova classics sung live by Astrud Gilberto, backed by the Pim Jacobs Combo.

Song list:

0:09 - "Meditation," 2:49 - "It Might As Well Be Spring," 5:29 - "The Telephone Song," 7:02 - "Only Trust Your Heart," 8:36 - "Corcovado," 10:35 - "The Girl From Ipanema" (reprise)

"Tchau," Tom. Click photo to hear "Brazil."