El Records (a division of Cherry Red) have just released a 32 track compilation of classic Brazilian bossa nova music. The story of this simple yet sophisticated “new trend” in music begins in the late fifties and coincides with a period of democratic freedom and economic development in Brazil. A new president, JUSCELINO KUBICHK, was determined to modernize his country and promised his people “fifty years of progress in five”. At the same time work began on a new federal capital, Brasilia, there was renewed foreign investment in the country, the arts began to flourish … and the country’s football team (featuring a teenage PELE) won the World Cup for the first time.

In this heady, encouraging climate, musicians thrived – developing a new, futuristic music that captured the mood of what was perceived in Brazil as a Golden Age. Songwriter ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM, poet VINICIUS de MORAES and guitarist JOAO GILBERTO were the principle architects of the new music which was soon to be embraced world-wide

‘Festival Of Bossa Nova’ collects together 32 bona fide bossa nova classics, all recorded between 1957 and 1960. Featured artists include WALTER WANDERLEY, JOAO GILBERTO, BADEN POWELL, LUCIO ALVES and a young SERGIO MENDES.

FESTIVAL OF BOSSA NOVA is out now on El RECORDS