Luiz Floriano Bonfá (17 October 1922 – 12 January 2001) was a Brazilian
guitarist
A guitarist (or a guitar player) is a person who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of guitar family instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselv ...
and
composer
A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music.
Etymology and Defi ...
. He was best known for the music he composed for the film ''
Black Orpheus
''Black Orpheus'' (Portuguese: ''Orfeu Negro'' ) is a 1959 romantic tragedy film made in Brazil by French director Marcel Camus and starring Marpessa Dawn and Breno Mello. It is based on the play '' Orfeu da Conceição'' by Vinicius de Morae ...
''.
Biography
Luiz Floriano Bonfá was born on October 17, 1922, in
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro ( , , ; literally 'River of January'), or simply Rio, is the capital of the state of the same name, Brazil's third-most populous state, and the second-most populous city in Brazil, after São Paulo. Listed by the GaWC as a b ...
. He began studying with Uruguayan
classical guitar
The classical guitar (also known as the nylon-string guitar or Spanish guitar) is a member of the guitar family used in classical music and other styles. An acoustic wooden string instrument with strings made of gut or nylon, it is a precursor o ...
ist IsaÃas Sávio at the age of 11. These weekly lessons entailed a long, harsh commute (on foot, plus two and half hours on train) from his family home in Santa Cruz, in the western rural outskirts of Rio de Janeiro, to the teacher's home in the hills of
Santa Teresa. Given Bonfá's extraordinary dedication and talent for the guitar, Sávio excused the youngster's inability to pay for his lessons.
Bonfá first gained widespread exposure in Brazil in 1947 when he was featured on Rio's
Rádio Nacional
Rádio Nacional (''National Radio'') is a Brazilian radio network belonging to the government-owned corporation EBC (''Empresa Brasil de Comunicação'', Brazil Communication Company), formerly known as ''Radiobrás''.
History
The Brazilian s ...
, then an important showcase for up-and-coming talent. He was a member of the vocal group Quitandinha Serenaders in the late 1940s. Some of his first compositions such as "Ranchinho de Palha", "O Vento Não Sabe", were recorded and performed by Brazilian crooner
Dick Farney
Farnésio Dutra e Silva (14 November 1921 – 4 August 1987), better known as Dick Farney, was a Brazilian (jazz) pianist, pop-composer, and "crooner" popular in Brazil from the late 1940s to the mid 1970s and 1980s.
He began playing piano as a ...
in the 1950s. Bonfá's first hit song was "De Cigarro em Cigarro" recorded by
Nora Ney in 1957. It was through Farney that Bonfá was introduced to
Antônio Carlos Jobim
Antônio Carlos Brasileiro de Almeida Jobim (25 January 1927 – 8 December 1994), also known as Tom Jobim (), was a Brazilian composer, pianist, guitarist, songwriter, arranger, and singer. Considered one of the great exponents of Brazilian mu ...
and
Vinicius de Moraes
Marcus VinÃcius da Cruz e Mello Moraes (19 October 1913 – 9 July 1980), better known as VinÃcius de Moraes () and nicknamed O Poetinha ("The little poet"), was a Brazilian poet, diplomat, lyricist, essayist, musician, singer, and playwright ...
, the leading songwriting team behind the worldwide explosion of the great
Bossa Nova
Bossa nova () is a style of samba developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is mainly characterized by a "different beat" that altered the harmonies with the introduction of unconventional chords and an innovativ ...
in the late 1950s to 1970s, becoming a fever in the US. Bonfá collaborated with them and with other prominent Brazilian musicians and artists in productions of de Moraes' anthological play ''
Orfeu da Conceição'', which several years later gave origin to
Marcel Camus
Marcel may refer to:
People
* Marcel (given name), people with the given name Marcel
* Marcel (footballer, born August 1981), Marcel Silva Andrade, Brazilian midfielder
* Marcel (footballer, born November 1981), Marcel Augusto Ortolan, Brazilian s ...
' film ''
Black Orpheus
''Black Orpheus'' (Portuguese: ''Orfeu Negro'' ) is a 1959 romantic tragedy film made in Brazil by French director Marcel Camus and starring Marpessa Dawn and Breno Mello. It is based on the play '' Orfeu da Conceição'' by Vinicius de Morae ...
'' (''Orfeu Negro'' in Portuguese). In the burgeoning days of Rio de Janeiro's thriving jazz scene, it was commonplace for musicians, artists, and dramatists to collaborate in such theatrical presentations. Bonfá wrote some of the original music featured in the film, including the numbers "Samba de Orfeu" and his most famous composition, "
Manhã de Carnaval
"Manhã de Carnaval" ("Carnival Morning") is a song by Brazilian composer Luiz Bonfá and lyricist Antônio Maria.
"Manhã de Carnaval" appeared as a principal theme in the 1959 Portuguese-language film ''Orfeu Negro'' by French director Marcel ...
" (of which
Carl Sigman
Carl Sigman (September 24, 1909 – September 26, 2000) was an American songwriter.
Early life
Born in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York to a Jewish-American family, Sigman graduated from law school and passed his bar exams to practice in ...
later wrote a different set of English lyrics titled "A Day in the Life of a Fool"), which has been among the top ten
standards played worldwide, according to ''
The Guinness Book of World Records
''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a reference book published annually, listing world ...
''.
As a composer and performer, Bonfá was at heart an exponent of the bold, lyrical, lushly orchestrated, and emotionally charged ''
samba-canção
Samba-canção () (literally 'samba song') is, in its most common acceptance or interpretation, the denomination for a kind of Brazilian popular songs with a slow-paced samba rhythm.
History
It appeared after the World War II, at the end of the ...
'' style that predated the arrival of
João Gilberto
João Gilberto (born João Gilberto Prado Pereira de Oliveira – ; 10 June 1931 – 6 July 2019) was a Brazilian guitarist, singer and composer who was a pioneer of the musical genre of bossa nova in the late 1950s. Around the world, he was o ...
's more refined and subdued
bossa nova
Bossa nova () is a style of samba developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is mainly characterized by a "different beat" that altered the harmonies with the introduction of unconventional chords and an innovativ ...
style.
Jobim,
João Donato
João Donato de Oliveira Neto is a Brazilian jazz and bossa nova pianist from Brazil. He first worked with Altamiro Carrilho and went on to perform with Antonio Carlos Jobim and Astrud Gilberto.
Career
A professional at the age of 15, Donato play ...
,
Dorival Caymmi
Dorival Caymmi (; April 30, 1914 – August 16, 2008) was a Brazilian singer, songwriter, actor, and painter active for more than 70 years, beginning in 1933. He contributed to the birth of Brazil's bossa nova movement, and several of his samba ...
, and other contemporaries were also essentially ''samba-canção'' musicians until the sudden, massive popularity of the young Gilberto's unique style of guitar playing and expressively muted vocals transformed the music of the day into the music of the future. Camus' film and Gilberto's and Jobim's collaborations with American jazzmen such as
Stan Getz
Stanley Getz (February 2, 1927 – June 6, 1991) was an American jazz saxophonist. Playing primarily the tenor saxophone, Getz was known as "The Sound" because of his warm, lyrical tone, with his prime influence being the wispy, mellow timbre of ...
and
Charlie Byrd did much to bring Brazilian popular music to the attention of the world, and Bonfá became a highly visible ambassador of Brazilian music in the United States beginning with the famous November 1962 Bossa Nova concert at New York's
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street (Manhattan), 56th and 57th Street (Manhatta ...
.
Bonfá worked with American musicians such as
Quincy Jones
Quincy Delight Jones Jr. (born March 14, 1933) is an American record producer, musician, songwriter, composer, arranger, and film and television producer. His career spans 70 years in the entertainment industry with a record of 80 Grammy Award n ...
,
George Benson
George Washington Benson (born March 22, 1943) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He began his professional career at the age of 19 as a jazz guitarist.
A former child prodigy, Benson first came to prominence in the 1960s, pla ...
,
Stan Getz
Stanley Getz (February 2, 1927 – June 6, 1991) was an American jazz saxophonist. Playing primarily the tenor saxophone, Getz was known as "The Sound" because of his warm, lyrical tone, with his prime influence being the wispy, mellow timbre of ...
, and
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Chairman of the Board" and later called "Ol' Blue Eyes", Sinatra was one of the most popular ...
, recording several albums while in U.S.
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...
sang a Bonfá composition, "Almost in Love" with lyrics by Randy Starr in the 1968 MGM film ''
Live a Little, Love a Little
''Live a Little, Love a Little'' is a 1968 American musical comedy film starring Elvis Presley. It was directed by Norman Taurog, who had directed several previous Presley films. This was to be Taurog's final film, as he went blind shortly after p ...
''. Also of note is his "
The Gentle Rain
"The Gentle Rain" ("Chuva Delicada") is a 1965 bossa nova composition by Luiz Bonfá, with lyrics by Matt Dubey. Originally written in ''A minor'' key and 4/4 time, this song was first released as part of the motion picture soundtrack of the 1966 ...
", with lyrics by Matt Dubey, ""
Non-Stop To Brazil"" (recorded by
Astrud Gilberto
Astrud Gilberto (; born Astrud Evangelina Weinert, March 29, 1940) is a Brazilian samba and bossa nova singer. She gained international attention in the 1960s following her recording of the song "The Girl from Ipanema".
Biography
Astrud Gilbert ...
) and "Sambolero". From 1990 to 1999, Bonfá worked with singer
Ithamara Koorax
Ithamara Koorax (born April 28, 1965) is a Brazilian jazz and pop singer.
Early life
She was born to a family of Polish Jews who fled Europe during World War II. In her youth Koorax studied piano, opera, and classical music while listening to ...
on several recordings and concerts, appearing live with her as special guest at several venues in Rio de Janeiro such as Teatro Rival, BNDES Auditorium and Funarte-Sidney Miller Hall. They also recorded together, in 1996, the album
Almost In Love - Ithamara Koorax Sings The Luiz Bonfá Songbook, featuring Bonfá on acoustic guitar plus special guests
Larry Coryell
Larry Coryell (born Lorenz Albert Van DeLinder III; April 2, 1943 – February 19, 2017) was an American jazz guitarist.
Early life
Larry Coryell was born in Galveston, Texas, United States. He never knew his biological father, a musician. He w ...
,
Eumir Deodato
Eumir Deodato de Almeida (; born 22 June 1942) is a Brazilian pianist, composer, arranger and record producer, primarily in jazz but who has been known for his eclectic melding of genres, such as pop, rock, disco, rhythm and blues, classical, ...
,
Ron Carter
Ronald Levin Carter (born May 4, 1937) is an American jazz double bassist. His appearances on 2,221 recording sessions make him the most-recorded jazz bassist in history. He has won three Grammy awards, and is also a cellist who has recorded nu ...
,
Marcos Suzano
Marcos Suzano (born 1963) is a Brazilian percussionist, famous for playing with many Brazilian and international musicians, such as Gilberto Gil, Nando Reis and Titãs. He was born in Rio de Janeiro. Originally a rock fan, he experienced a carnav ...
, and
Sadao Watanabe. The sessions, produced by
Arnaldo DeSouteiro, were filmed for a Japanese TV broadcast presented by
Sadao Watanabe.
Bonfá wrote soundtracks for two dozens of movies, such as ''
Black Orpheus
''Black Orpheus'' (Portuguese: ''Orfeu Negro'' ) is a 1959 romantic tragedy film made in Brazil by French director Marcel Camus and starring Marpessa Dawn and Breno Mello. It is based on the play '' Orfeu da Conceição'' by Vinicius de Morae ...
'', ''
O Santo Módico'', ''
Os Cafajestes
''The Unscrupulous Ones'' ( pt, Os Cafajestes) is a 1962 Brazilian crime film directed by Ruy Guerra. It was entered into the 12th Berlin International Film Festival.
Cast
* Jece Valadão - Jandir
* Norma Bengell - Leda
* Daniel Filho - Vavà ...
'', ''
The Gentle Rain
"The Gentle Rain" ("Chuva Delicada") is a 1965 bossa nova composition by Luiz Bonfá, with lyrics by Matt Dubey. Originally written in ''A minor'' key and 4/4 time, this song was first released as part of the motion picture soundtrack of the 1966 ...
'', ''
Pour Un Amour Lointain
''Pour un amour lointain'' (English title: ''For a Distant Love'') is a 1968 French romantic comedy film directed by Edmond Séchan.
The cast includes Jean Rochefort in the leading role. It was the feature debut of identical twins Cristina and I ...
'', ''
Le Ore dell'Amore'', ''
Carnival Of Crime
''Carnival of Crime'' (Spanish: ''Carnaval del crimen'') is a 1962 mystery film directed by George Cahan and starring Jean-Pierre Aumont, Alix Talton and Tônia Carrero.Goble p.189 It is based on the 1956 novel ''The Sleeping Partner'' by British ...
'' and ''
Prisoner Of Rio
''Prisoner of Rio'' is a 1988 drama film directed by Lech Majewski and starring Steven Berkoff, Paul Freeman and Peter Firth. It shows the flight of the Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs to Brazil and the attempts of Scotland Yard detectives t ...
'' (on which he collaborated with arranger
Hans Zimmer
Hans Florian Zimmer (; born 12 September 1957) is a German film score composer and music producer. He has won two Academy Awards, Oscars and four Grammy Awards, Grammys, and has been nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards, Emmys and a Tony Awar ...
), among many others. He died of prostate cancer at 78 in Rio de Janeiro on January 12, 2001. At the time of his death, he was working in the soundtracks for a movie produced and starred by
Karen Black
Karen Blanche Black (née Ziegler; July 1, 1939 – August 8, 2013) was an American actress, screenwriter, singer, and songwriter. She rose to prominence for her work in various studio and independent films in the 1970s, frequently portrayi ...
and for a Broadway show titled ''
Brazilian Bombshell'' based in the life of
Carmen Miranda
Carmen Miranda, (; born Maria do Carmo Miranda da Cunha, 9 February 1909 – 5 August 1955) was a Portuguese-born Brazilian samba singer, dancer, Broadway actress and film star who was active from the late 1920s onwards. Nicknamed "The B ...
and to be starred by
Sonia Braga
Sonia, Sonja or Sonya, a name of Greek origin meaning wisdom, may refer to:
People
* Sonia (name), a feminine given name (lists people named, Sonia, Sonja and Sonya)
:* Sonia (actress), Indian film actress in Malayalam and Tamil films
:* Sonia ...
.
Legacy
In 2005,
Smithsonian Folkways
Smithsonian Folkways is the nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian Institution. It is a part of the Smithsonian's Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, located at Capital Gallery in downtown Washington, D.C. The label was fou ...
Recordings released an album of Bonfá's work, entitled ''Solo in Rio 1959'', which included previously unreleased material from the original recording session.
In 2008,
Universal Music France
Universal Music Group owns, or has a joint share in, many of the record labels listed here.
According to UMG official site, the main labels are Abbey Road Studios, Bravado, Capitol Music Group, Decca Records, Def Jam Recordings, Deutsche Grammopho ...
released a
coffee table book
A coffee table book, also known as a cocktail table book, is an oversized, usually hard-covered book whose purpose is for display on a table intended for use in an area in which one entertains guests and from which it can serve to inspire convers ...
containing two CDs which included previously unreleased material of the ''Black Orpheus'' soundtrack, and a DVD. Also in 2008,
Universal Music
Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as just Universal Music) is a Netherlands, Dutch–United States, American multinational Music industry, music corporation under Law of the Netherlands, Dutch law. UMG's cor ...
released ''The Brazilian Scene'', ''Braziliana'' and ''Black Orpheus'' celebrating the 50th anniversary of the bossa nova.
Bonfá's major legacy continues to be his compositions from the ''Black Orpheus'' soundtrack, most notably the instantly recognizable bossa nova classic "Manhã de Carnaval". But Bonfá's discography also attests to his uniquely inventive mastery of Brazilian jazz guitar. Bonfá's guitar style was brassier and more penetrating than that of his major contemporary, João Gilberto, and Bonfá was a frequent and adept soloist whereas Gilberto plays his own suave, intricate brand of rhythm guitar almost exclusively. Bonfá often played solo guitar in a
polyphonic
Polyphony ( ) is a type of musical texture consisting of two or more simultaneous lines of independent melody, as opposed to a musical texture with just one voice, monophony, or a texture with one dominant melodic voice accompanied by chords, h ...
style, harmonizing melody lines in a manner similar to that made famous by
Wes Montgomery
John Leslie "Wes" Montgomery (March 6, 1923 – June 15, 1968) was an American jazz guitarist. Montgomery was known for an unusual technique of plucking the strings with the side of his thumb and his extensive use of octaves, which gave him a dist ...
in the US, or playing lead and rhythm parts simultaneously. As a composer and as a guitarist, Bonfá played a pivotal role in bridging the incumbent ''samba-canção'' style with the innovations of the bossa nova movement.
Bonfa's
instrumental
An instrumental is a recording normally without any vocals, although it might include some inarticulate vocals, such as shouted backup vocals in a big band setting. Through semantic widening, a broader sense of the word song may refer to instru ...
"Seville" from his 1967 LP Luiz Bonfa Plays Great Songs is the basis for the 2011 hit "
Somebody That I Used to Know
"Somebody That I Used to Know" is a song written, produced, and performed by Belgian-Australian singer-songwriter Gotye featuring vocals from New Zealand singer Kimbra. The song was released in Australia and New Zealand by Eleven Music on ...
" by Belgian-Australian musician
Gotye
Wouter André "Wally" De Backer (born 21 May 1980), better known by his stage name Gotye ( ), is a Belgian-Australian multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter. The name "Gotye" is a pronunciation respelling of "Gauthier", the French cognat ...
. Gotye's song charted No. 1 in 27 countries.
Many other Bonfa's songs have been heavily sampled by MCs, rappers and DJs of the hip-hop generation. "Bonfá Nova" was sampled by Brazilian rapper
Marcelo D2
Marcelo Maldonado Peixoto (born November 5, 1967), also known as Marcelo D2, is a Brazilian rapper and singer.
Biography
A former vocalist of the band Planet Hemp, he started his solo career in 1998 with the album ''Eu Tiro É Onda.'' The al ...
on the hit song "
À Procura da Batida Perfeita," "Jacarandá" was sampled by the group
Planet Hemp
Planet Hemp is a Brazilian rap rock musical group, known for starting the career of rappers Marcelo D2 and BNegão for its lyrics supporting the legality of cannabis. The band was founded in Rio de Janeiro in 1993, with original members Marcelo ...
on "
Se Liga", "Bahia Soul" was sampled by the British band
Smoke City on their biggest hit "
Underwater Love" and "Saudade Vem Correndo" became the hip-hero anthem "
Runnin'" recorded by
The Pharcyde
The Pharcyde (currently known as The Far Side) is an American alternative hip hop group, formed in 1989, from South Central Los Angeles. The original four members of the group are Imani (Emandu Wilcox), Slimkid3 (Trevant Hardson), Bootie Brown ...
.
Discography
* 1955 ''Luiz Bonfá'' (10",
Continental
Continental may refer to:
Places
* Continent, the major landmasses of Earth
* Continental, Arizona, a small community in Pima County, Arizona, US
* Continental, Ohio, a small town in Putnam County, US
Arts and entertainment
* ''Continental'' ( ...
LPP-21)
* 1956 ''De Cigarro em Cigarro'' (10", Continental LPP-53)
* 1956 ''Noite e Dia'' with
Eduardo Lincoln (Continental LPP-3018)
* 1956 ''Meia-Noite em Copacabana'' (
Polydor
Polydor Records Ltd. is a German-British record label that operates as part of Universal Music Group. It has a close relationship with Universal's Interscope Geffen A&M Records label, which distributes Polydor's releases in the United States. ...
LPNG 4004)
* 1956 ''Edu N.2'' (Rádio 0036-V)
* 1956 ''Orfeu da Conceição'' (
Odeon
Odeon may refer to:
Ancient Greek and Roman buildings
* Odeon (building), ancient Greek and Roman buildings built for singing exercises, musical shows and poetry competitions
* Odeon of Agrippa, Athens
* Odeon of Athens
* Odeon of Domitian, Rome
...
MODB-3056)
* 1957 ''Alta Versatilidade'' (Odeon MOFB-3003)
* 1957 ''Violão Boêmio'' (Odeon MOFB-3014)
* 1958 ''Ritmo Continentais'' (Odeon MOFB-3020)
* 1958 ''Bonfafá'' with
Fafá Lemos (Odeon MOFB-3047)
* 1958 ''Luiz Bonfá e Silvia Telles'' (Odeon BWB-1040)
* 1958 ''Meu Querido Violão'' (Odeon MOFB-3076)
* 1958 ''Toca Melodias das Américas'' (Imperial 30009)
* 1958 ''¡Amor! The Fabulous Guitar of Luiz Bonfa'' (
Atlantic
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...
SD 8028)
* 1959 ''Black Orpheus (Orfeu Negro)'' O.S.T., with
Antônio Carlos Jobim
Antônio Carlos Brasileiro de Almeida Jobim (25 January 1927 – 8 December 1994), also known as Tom Jobim (), was a Brazilian composer, pianist, guitarist, songwriter, arranger, and singer. Considered one of the great exponents of Brazilian mu ...
(Epic LN3672; 10", Philips B76.470R; re-released also on
Fontana and
Verve
Verve may refer to:
Music
* The Verve, an English rock band
* ''The Verve E.P.'', a 1992 EP by The Verve
* ''Verve'' (R. Stevie Moore album)
* Verve Records, an American jazz record label
Businesses
* Verve Coffee Roasters, an American coffee ho ...
)
* 1959 ''O Violão de Luiz Bonfá'' (Cook 1134)
* 1960 ''A Voz e o Violão'' with
Norma Suely (Odeon MOFB-3144)
* 1960 ''Passeio no Rio'' (Odeon BWB-1151)
* 1961 ''Pery Ribeiro'' (Odeon 7BD-1011)
* 1961 ''Luiz Bonfá'' (Odeon 7BD-1017)
* 1961 ''Pery Ribeiro e Seu Mundo de Canções Românticas'' with
Pery Ribeiro
Pery Ribeiro (27 October 1937 – 24 February 2012) was a Brazilian singer of bossa nova, MPB and jazz, active as a singer from 1959 until shortly before his death.
Biography
Pery Ribeiro was born Peri Oliveira Martins on 27 October 1937, son ...
(Odeon MOFB-3272)
* 1961 ''Sócio de Alcova'' (
RCA
The RCA Corporation was a major American electronics company, which was founded as the Radio Corporation of America in 1919. It was initially a patent trust owned by General Electric (GE), Westinghouse, AT&T Corporation and United Fruit Comp ...
LCD-1007)
* 1962 ''O Violão e o Samba'' (Odeon MOFB 3295)
* 1962 ''Le Roi de la Bossa Nova'' (Fontana 680.228ML)
* 1962 ''Bossa Nova no Carnegie Hall'' (Audio Fidelity AFLP 2101)
* 1962 ''
Luiz Bonfá Plays and Sings Bossa Nova'' (Verve V6-8522)
* 1962 ''Le Ore dell'amore'' (C.A.M. CEP.45-102)
* 1963 ''Caterina Valente e Luiz Bonfá'' (
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
LLN 7090)
* 1963 ''
Jazz Samba Encore!'' with
Stan Getz
Stanley Getz (February 2, 1927 – June 6, 1991) was an American jazz saxophonist. Playing primarily the tenor saxophone, Getz was known as "The Sound" because of his warm, lyrical tone, with his prime influence being the wispy, mellow timbre of ...
(Verve V6-8523)
* 1963 ''Recado Novo de Luiz Bonfá'' (Odeon MOFB 3310)
* 1963 ''Violão Boêmio Vol. 2'' (Odeon SMOFB 3360)
* 1964 ''Rio'' with
Paul Winter
Paul Winter (born August 31, 1939) is an American saxophonist, composer, and bandleader. He is a pioneer of world music and earth music, which interweaves the voices of the wild with instrumental voices from classical, jazz and world music. The ...
(
Columbia CS 9115)
* 1965 ''The Gentle Rain'' O.S.T., with
Eumir Deodato
Eumir Deodato de Almeida (; born 22 June 1942) is a Brazilian pianist, composer, arranger and record producer, primarily in jazz but who has been known for his eclectic melding of genres, such as pop, rock, disco, rhythm and blues, classical, ...
(Mercury SR 61016)
* 1965 ''Quincy Plays for Pussycats'' with
Quincy Jones
Quincy Delight Jones Jr. (born March 14, 1933) is an American record producer, musician, songwriter, composer, arranger, and film and television producer. His career spans 70 years in the entertainment industry with a record of 80 Grammy Award n ...
(Mercury SR 61050)
* 1965 ''The Shadow of Your Smile'' (Verve V6-8629)
* 1965 ''Braziliana'' with
Maria Helena Toledo (Philips PHS 600-199)
* 1965 ''The New Sound of Brazil'' with
João Donato
João Donato de Oliveira Neto is a Brazilian jazz and bossa nova pianist from Brazil. He first worked with Altamiro Carrilho and went on to perform with Antonio Carlos Jobim and Astrud Gilberto.
Career
A professional at the age of 15, Donato play ...
(RCA LSP-3473)
* 1965 ''The Movie Song Album'' with
Tony Bennett
Anthony Dominick Benedetto (born August 3, 1926), known professionally as Tony Bennett, is an American retired singer of traditional pop standards, big band, show tunes, and jazz. Bennett is also a painter, having created works under his birth ...
(Columbia CS 9272)
* 1965 ''The Brazilian Scene'' (Philips PHS 600-208)
* 1967 ''Pour un amour lointain'' (
United Artists
United Artists Corporation (UA), currently doing business as United Artists Digital Studios, is an American digital production company. Founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks, the studi ...
36.123 UAE)
* 1967 ''Luiz Bonfá'' (
Dot DLP 25804)
* 1967 ''Stevie & Eydie, Bonfá & Brazil'' with
Steve Lawrence
Steve Lawrence (born Sidney Liebowitz; July 8, 1935) is an American singer, comedian and actor, best known as a member of a duo with his wife Eydie Gormé, billed as " Steve and Eydie", and for his performance as Maury Sline, the manager and fr ...
and
Eydie Gormé
Eydie Gormé ( ; born Edith Gormezano; August 16, 1928 – August 10, 2013) was an American singer who had hits on the pop and Latin pop charts. She sang solo and in the duo Steve and Eydie with her husband, Steve Lawrence, on albums and telev ...
(Columbia CS 9530)
* 1967 ''Luiz Bonfa Plays Great Songs'' (Dot DLP 25825)
* 1968 ''Black Orpheus Impressions'' (Dot DLP 25848)
* 1968 ''Bonfá'' (Dot DLP 25881)
* 1969 ''My Way'' with
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Chairman of the Board" and later called "Ol' Blue Eyes", Sinatra was one of the most popular ...
(
Reprise
In music, a reprise ( , ; from the verb 'to resume') is the repetition or reiteration of the opening material later in a composition as occurs in the recapitulation of sonata form, though—originally in the 18th century—was simply any repea ...
FS 1029)
* 1969 ''I Got a Woman and Some Blues'' with
George Benson
George Washington Benson (born March 22, 1943) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He began his professional career at the age of 19 as a jazz guitarist.
A former child prodigy, Benson first came to prominence in the 1960s, pla ...
(
A&M SP-9-3025)
* 1970 ''The New Face of Bonfa'' (RCA LSP-4376)
* 1971 ''Sanctuary'' (RCA LSP-4591)
* 1972 ''Introspection'' (RCA FSP-297)
* 1973 ''Jacarandá'' (Ranwood R-8112)
* 1978 ''Bonfá Burrows Brazil'' (Cherry Pie CPF 1045)
* 1986 ''For A Distant Love'' with
Yana Purim (Pausa Records PR 7203)
* 1989 ''Non-Stop to Brazil'' (
Chesky JD29)
* 1992 ''The Bonfá Magic'' (Caju Music 511.404-2) re-released also on
Milestone Records
Milestone Records is an American jazz record company and label founded in 1966 by Orrin Keepnews and Dick Katz in New York City. The company was bought by Fantasy Records in 1972. Since then, it has produced LP reissues (including items from Ke ...
and
JVC Victor
, also known as in Japan, is a subsidiary of JVCKenwood that produces and distributes music, movies and other entertainment products such as anime and television shows in Japan. It is known as JVC Entertainment in countries where Sony Music Ente ...
* 1992 ''The Brazil Project'' with
Toots Thielemans
Jean-Baptiste Frédéric Isidor, Baron Thielemans (29 April 1922 – 22 August 2016), known professionally as Toots Thielemans, was a Belgian jazz musician. He was mostly known for his chromatic harmonica playing, as well as his guitar and whistl ...
(Private Music 82101)
* 1992 ''The Brazil Project 2'' with
Toots Thielemans
Jean-Baptiste Frédéric Isidor, Baron Thielemans (29 April 1922 – 22 August 2016), known professionally as Toots Thielemans, was a Belgian jazz musician. He was mostly known for his chromatic harmonica playing, as well as his guitar and whistl ...
(Private Music 82110)
* 1995 ''Rio Vermelho/Red River'' with
Ithamara Koorax
Ithamara Koorax (born April 28, 1965) is a Brazilian jazz and pop singer.
Early life
She was born to a family of Polish Jews who fled Europe during World War II. In her youth Koorax studied piano, opera, and classical music while listening to ...
(Imagem 2012)
* 1996 ''Almost In Love - Ithamara Koorax Sings The Luiz Bonfá Songbook'' (Paddle Wheel KICP 503)
* 1997 ''Here In My Heart'' with
Kenny Rankin
Kenneth Joseph Rankin (February 10, 1940 – June 7, 2009) was an American singer and songwriter in the folk rock and singer-songwriter genres; he was influenced by jazz. Rankin would often sing notes in a high range to express emotion.
Biogr ...
(Private Music 0100582148-2)
* 2003 ''Love Dance'' with
Ithamara Koorax
Ithamara Koorax (born April 28, 1965) is a Brazilian jazz and pop singer.
Early life
She was born to a family of Polish Jews who fled Europe during World War II. In her youth Koorax studied piano, opera, and classical music while listening to ...
(Milestone MCD 9327-2)
* 2005 ''Solo in Rio 1959'' (
Smithsonian Folkways
Smithsonian Folkways is the nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian Institution. It is a part of the Smithsonian's Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, located at Capital Gallery in downtown Washington, D.C. The label was fou ...
SFW CD 40483)
* 2015 ''Strange Message''
References
External links
"Luiz Bonfá, The Brazilian Wizard" by Brian HodelNos Bastidores do Concerto de Bossa Nova no Carnegie Hall 1962''Solo in Rio'', 1959 album detailsat
Smithsonian Folkways
Smithsonian Folkways is the nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian Institution. It is a part of the Smithsonian's Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, located at Capital Gallery in downtown Washington, D.C. The label was fou ...
*
Luiz Bonfá discography with album art and descriptions by Koichi and Motoko Yasuoka* with
Steve Lawrence
Steve Lawrence (born Sidney Liebowitz; July 8, 1935) is an American singer, comedian and actor, best known as a member of a duo with his wife Eydie Gormé, billed as " Steve and Eydie", and for his performance as Maury Sline, the manager and fr ...
in 1973
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bonfa, Luiz
1922 births
2001 deaths
APRA Award winners
Bossa nova guitarists
Brazilian composers
Brazilian film score composers
Brazilian jazz guitarists
Brazilian male guitarists
Composers for the classical guitar
Chesky Records artists
Dot Records artists
Jazz fusion guitarists
Male film score composers
Milestone Records artists
RCA Records artists
Verve Records artists
20th-century guitarists
20th-century male musicians
Male jazz musicians