Joao Gilberto

Music | HIGH NOTES Aug 27, 2003

Joao Gilberto

by Philip Brasor

Experts agree that two pop music genres were invented by individuals: bluegrass by the American mandolinist Bill Monroe in 1938, and bossa nova by Brazilian Antonio Carlos Jobim in the mid-'50s. Jobim wrote "Desafinado," and while, in 1957, this was bossa nova's first big ...

Richard Bona: "Munia (The Tale)"

Music | HIGH NOTES Aug 27, 2003

Richard Bona: "Munia (The Tale)"

by Michael Pronko

One of the encouragements jazz players often shout to each other during intense solos is "Tell the story!" On Cameroonian Richard Bona's third release, "Munia (The Tale)," he does just that by weaving lovely epic tales in melody and rhythm that combine West African ...