The Third Wave

by LAUREN TREIHAFT  for Urbane Magazine
FROM VOL I: Issue 1, Spring 2010

With the everlasting influx of new music there seems to be a common thread among new “indie” releases; the reemergence of the Latin sound, specifically bossa nova.

Bossa nova is a form of Latin jazz that originated in Brazil and was popularized by artists such as Antonio Carlos Jobim and Joao Gilberto. The sound derives from the style of samba. Bossa nova was very prevalent from the late 1950s into the mid 1960s. American artists such as Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald contributed to the craze by creating albums of Americanized bossa nova in which they sang the formerly Portuguese songs in English. Perhaps the most well known bossa nova song is “The Girl From Ipanema,” by Jobim, later covered by Sinatra. The style of music was praised for its easy listening capabilities and tropical feel. France also witnessed the emergence of bossa during the New Wave of the 1960s with artists like Serge Gainsbourg and Enzo Enzo, whose music is often referred to as French café music.

Now, in 2010, there is a band whose sole dedication is to pay homage to bossa nova. Their name, Nouvelle Vague, is evocative of the French New Wave as well as the new wave style of music that materialized in the late 70s and lasted through the 80s. Nouvelle Vague puts a very different spin on the classic bossa song. The band uses post-punk/electronic songs from new wave artists such as “Love Will Tear Us Apart” by Joy Divison and “Blue Monday” by New Order, and turns them into bossa nova by incorporating seventh chords and adding emphasis on the second beat. The product is very enjoyable. The arguable downside to this band is their lack of original material.

There is a multitude of other bands/ artists trying their hand at riffs of Latin Jazz. Andrew Bird’s “Masterswarm” of his latest album, Noble Beast, has definite traces of bossa nova. Famous Norwegian duo, The Kings of Convenience is largely influenced by bossa nova. All three of their albums draw heavily on the sound, especially the song, “Leaving Against the Wall”. Prominent indie artist, Beck, has sampled standard bossa nova song, “Desafinado” and wrote his own samba, “Tropicalia.” Belle and Sebastian have been known to incorporate the genre in their work as well. No harm in a little bossa.

Recently, several other artists have chosen to honor the musical careers of their parents and predecessors. Bebel Gilberto, daughter of Joao Gilberto, remains a popular singer of bossa nova. She performs the classics that her parents made famous as well as her own material. She released a new album in 2009, All in One. Charlotte Gainsbourg, daughter of Serge Gainsbourg, and Isabelle Antena are two French artists who continue to honor the French bossa/ café tradition.
Will bossa nova and Latin jazz as a whole have its third chance at fame? If history does in fact repeat itself then we may have stumbled on an important resurrection.