Aguas de Marco - Joao Gilberto - 1973
Na Baixa do Sapateiro - Joao Gilberto - 1973
Miles Davis once said Joao Gilberto could read a newspaper and make it sound good. I couldn't agree more! Gilberto's economy and understated cool are ever present in this 1973 version of "Aguas de Marco." It starts with Gilberto strumming a single chord for what seems like forever--the musical equivalent of playing dumb. Then: A handful of chords. Brushes on a closed hi-hat. When Gilberto launches into the melody, his phrasing is like short-hand, as if he were singing to himself in an empty studio or teaching someone how it should be done. He is so matter-of-fact in his delivery, it wouldn't be a stretch to image him at the breakfast table reading the paper out loud in this voice.
