Astrud Gilberto - Beach Samba / SHM-CD

A studio album recorded by Astrud Gilberto for Verve in 1967, with arrangements by Eumir Deodato and Don Sebesky, Beach Samba successfully showcases the singer’s soft, soothing, playful, ethereal voice. The program consists of laid-back beach bossa nova tunes. The opening track, “Stay”, is a true highlight, while “Beach Samba” is a wordless delight and “Canoeiro” rolls the Portuguese lyrics into a snaking rhythm. A real standout is “You Didn’t Have to Be So Nice,” a duet with her then-six-year-old son. Gilberto’s vocals are backed by a sumptuous Brazil pop-cum-U.S. orchestration feel (Ron Carter and Toots Thielemans are among the sidemen, as well as Brazilian stars Marcos Valle and Claudio Slon). Some of the more pop choices are also remarkable, particularly Tim Hardin’s gorgeous “Misty Roses.”