GUITAR FROM IPANEMA

Laurindo Almeida Plays Subtle, Romantic Melodies of Brazil by Gilberto, Jobim, Bonfa, Lemos, Ferreira, and Almeida...Accompanied by Soft Guitars and Gentle Latin Percussion.

Bordering the open Atlantic along Rio de Janiero's beautiful coast lies a lovely sun washed crescent of beach that, until recently, was as little known to North Americans as its neighboring Copacabana is famous.  We know of it now, of course, because of its sultry, swaying citizen - the girl written about so delightfully by Antonio Carlos Jobim that she might easily have brought fame to any stretch of beach he's chosen for her home.

Yet guitarist Laurindo Almeida vows that Ipanema is truly a rare place, its girls most inspiring.  Indeed, Laurindo knows it well, though it has been some years since he swam there, absorbed it caressing sun, and played guitar to his heart's content in the numerous clubs that dot Ipanema's beautiful inland lagoon.

And the music he played then was the same sort he plays now on this CD - the subtly romantic, liltingly beautiful melodies and rhythms of Brazil's composer colony - music that recalls the carefree mood of amorous afternoons on the beach at Ipanema.  What a place it must be.  The air is pure, the girls tantalizing, and the guitarists, judging by Almeida, the finest in the world.

1. The Girl From Ipanema:  by Jobim, is, of course, Brazil's current rage.  Heard here with Laurindo"s guitar is the whistling of Jack Marshall.

2. Manhá de Carnaval: by Luiz Bonfá, from his beautiful score for the famed "Black Orpheus" film, features the haunting distant voice of a harmonica played by George Fields.

3. Sarah's Samba: by Laurindo Almeida, introduces the flute of Harry Klee.

4. Winter Moon: also by Almeida, presents vocalist Irene Kral, who in her cool, sensitive way, incorporates a modern jazz feeling with this lilting Brazilian melody.  This is one of the two selection in which Laurindo plays a standard classic guitar. See below about the new and unique electronic instrument he plays in the other selections.

5. Izabella: by Djalma Ferreira, who also composed "Recado Bossa Nova," brings this brilliant Brazilian organist-composer to the keyboard for his one performance on this CD.

6. Choro For People In Love: by Almeida, again features Harry Klee on flute.

7. Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars:  (Corcovado), by Jobim is one of this great composer's earlier hits.  The flute is by Harry Klee.

8. Old Guitaron: with music by Almeida and lyrics by Johnny Mercer, again features the voice of Irene Kral, with Laurindo playing standard guitar.

9. Um Abraço No Bonfá: João Gilberto's salute to his countryman and fellow composer, is whistled by Jack Marshall with flute by Justin Gordon.

10. Twilight in Rio: by Almeida, returns the beautiful harmonica of George Fields.

11. The Fiddler's Wolf Whistle: by Fafa Lemos, features the well known Brazilian composer on violin, in his bright little tongue-in-cheek melody dedicated to the charms of friend Jobim's "Girl from Ipanema".

Note:  Other featured musicians include Justin Gordon on Flute (except where Klee is creditied), Al Hendrickson on second guitar and Jack Marshall on occasional third guitar.  On all but the two vocal selections, Laurindo Almeida plays a new all-electronic guitar, the recent invention of JackCookerly and Bob Hall.  The startling variety of tone colors displayed by this instrument is not the result of trick recording, but is produced directly from the guitar by Laurindo as he plays.