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Thursday was the day of the book launch at Sounds Of Universe, the retail home of Soul Jazz and their book publishing enterprise have come up with this pre-Xmas tempter of 180 pages of Bossa Nova: And The Rise Of Brazilian Music In The 1960s compiled by Gilles Peterson and Stuart Baker.

Even after an afternoon in the pub waiting on the result of the 2018 World Cup hosting fiasco (and only getting two votes!) skating off to Soho and warm up (or sober up) with this exciting insight of Bossa Nova at its rebellious peak when ‘The Girl From Ipanema’ was the epitome of cool - which we are informed was written about Helosia Eneida Menezes Paes Pinto in Bar Veloso (I’ve been there, Ed).

The book follows their other book, Freedom, Rhythm & Sound - Revolutionary Jazz Original Cover Art 1965-1983 from a couple of years ago (still available) that reflected the political and civil rights of America via the cover art of mostly independent jazz musicians and labels like Sun Ra, Steve Reid, Don Cherry with ESP, Strata East and the Flying Dutchman labels (many of which Soul Jazz Records have loving re-issued on vinyl). And not only did Peterson and Baker record collect from that period, much of the Dingwalls/Jazzdance scene was fuelled by the Afro-Latin/Bossa Nova/Samba sound of Brazil.

So obviously they’ve got large record collections and here are some of the best covers that are probably not so known as Freedom, Rhythm & Sound; like the book’s cover inspiration, Bossa Session designed by Cesar Villela from 1964 which featured songs by the leaders of the movement like Jobim, Eumir Deodato and Edu Lobo (all familiar names to fans of Far Out Recordings and the like)

Not only was the design departments at Philips, Elenco and Odeon working overtime during these heady days, the photography is a much Blue Note as Caranby St (which inspiration would turn up again at Talkin’ Loud, Far Out and many more).

And if you ever wondered what Sergio Mendez, Joyce, Marcos Valle, Elis Regina, Joao Gilberto, Chico Buarque de Hollanda, Manfredo ‘Jungle Kitten’ Fest and loads more looked like when they were young, this is the book for you.

What with the current Mad Men TV series success, this is Brazilian coffee table book equivalent but I’m inspired to dig out some Ed Lincoln, Tania Maria and possibly a bit of Walter Wanderley for tomorrow’s Jazz Chronicles session (see details below) on the strength of it (only on CD re-issue in my case and not vinyl original).

Not only is there the book, if your budget can stretch to it, there’s a rather cool record bag option and no doubt the compilation CD/Vinyl set is coming soon.

In these days of mp3 untouchables and every diminishing record shops, the ‘album cover’ book is the create diggin’ alternative (just a thought, a few shots of the rear covers would have been nice to read up on credits) and it’s highly recommended; especially if you’re going to be snowed in for a few days.

Also check out the review in Jungle Drums HERE (and congrats on your 8th Birthday)

Reviewed: Gilles Peterson/Stuart Baker - Bossa Nova (Soul Jazz Books) ISBN 978 -0-9554817-4-1 Published December 2010

Links:
www.soundsoftheuniverse.com SOUNDS OF THE UNIVERSE, 7 Broadwick Street, Soho, London W1F 0DA Tel: 020 7734 3430 e-mail: mailorder@soundsoftheuniverse.com
Jazz Chronicles with Simon S, Martin Gordon and Gerry Hectic every first Saturday of the month - next up: Saturday, 6th November at 3:00pm @ Sixty Million Postcards, Bournemouth
www.myspace.com/jazzchronicleswww.myspace.com/60millionpostcards
Naked Vinyl - Bachelor Album Cover Art by Tim O’Brien & Mike Savage (Universe Publishing), 2002 ISBN 0-7893-0862-2