Stan Getz & João Gilberto – Getz/Gilberto (SACD hibrid)

Stan Getz and João Gilberto are an unlikely pair. The New York-born son of Ukrainian immigrants, Getz and the Brazilian Gilberto quickly brought to the fore a phenomenon that had previously been largely absent from the charts. This period would come to be known as the Bossa Nova craze, and this was undoubtedly its peak. The hit ‘The Girl from Ipanema’ alone is worth the purchase price. This version is the first since about 1980 to be right/left like the original tape.

The inlay card of this Hybrid SACD shows an image of the notes on the master tape used. It clearly states that this tape is damaged and should not be used. The B copy should be used instead. Almost all previous releases have adhered to this, and so this is one of the few cases where you can hear Astrud Gilberto singing ‘Girl from Ipanema’ from the far left of her cabin. Sadly, the tape does have its weaknesses, but it sounds wonderfully open with excellent vocal reproduction and is a serious alternative to the FIM K2HD, which has an even more powerful bass. A clear recommendation for all SACD player owners.

This recording is part of a series of 25 Verve reissues on Analogue Productions. The original Analogue tapes are re-edited by senior mastering engineer George Marino at Sterling Sound in New York. Many of the tapes have been sent to other labels as copies for decades, but Sterling Sound works so closely with Universal Music, the owners of the Verve label, that they occasionally make an exception. The hybrid SACDs sound excellent, clearly eclipsing earlier digitisations.

We recommend the use of „L’Art du Son” CD/DVD conditioner for even more sonic improvement.

Lista pieselor

1. The Girl from Ipanema

2. Doralice

3. P’ra Muchucar

4. Desafinado

5. Corcovado

6. So Dance Samba

7. O Grande Amor

8. Vivo Sonhando