Various Artists — The Mountains, The Sun And The Sea – The Art Of An

Here we have a four-CD set celebrating the work and influence of Brazilian composer, pianist, songwriter, arranger and singer Antônio Carlos Jobim- who is seen as both originator of Bossa Nova, and a key/ important figure in easy listening LatinJazz. The set brings together stand-alone albums, soundtracks, odds and ends, and a collection of Jobim work played by others.

The release appears on Cherry Red’s easy listening sub-label El, with the four-disc and booklet presented in a card slip sleeve. Each CD comes in its own card sleeve, and the thirty-two-page inlay booklet features write-ups about Jobim and his collaborators, a selection of quotes from others regarding the great man, original album cover artwork, photos and full/ detailed credits for each of the CDs.

Antônio Carlos Jobim(25 January 1927 – 8 December 1994) was born into a middle-class family in Rio de Janeiro- and by the 1940’s he was playing the piano in bars and clubs around the city. By the 50’s he had become an arranger at Continental Studios, where in April 1953 he recorded his first composition with Brazilian singer Mauricy Moura. From here he quickly became a key/ important figure in Brazilian easy listening, with his name/ work get worldwide respected/ appeal when he worked with American jazz saxophonist Stan Getz in the early 1960s. He is seen as the creator of the Bossa Nova genre, as well as spreading its influence around the world too, and been one of the key figures in Latin jazz.

The first disc in the set takes in twenty-five tracks, and eighty minutes of music. It opens up with two Jobim composed/ arranged tracks from 1954, moving onto a selection of instrumental themes from the same period. Though the lion share of this disc is taken up by seventeen Jobim tracks played by others, and these come from between the years 1955 and 1962.

Moving onto the second disc in the set- and here we find another eighty minutes of music and thirty-one tracks. This kicks off with the 1956 album Orfeu da Conceição(Orpheus of the Conception)- this is the cast recording for the stage play of the same name which was written by playwright Vinicius de Moraeso, with music by Jobim. Next on the disc, we have Canção do Amor Demais a 1958 album from respected singer Elizete Cardoso, which is seen as one of the first examples of the Bossa Nova form. The disc is finished off selections of tracks from two late 50’s soundtracks that Jobim worked on.
 
On disc three we find seventy-nine minutes worth of music and another thirty-three tracks. This disc kicks off with Chega de Saudade/Bim Bom- a 1959 album by guitarist/ singer joão gilberto- this was arranged/ produced by Jobim. Next up we have 1959’s Amor De Gente Moça: Musicas De Antonio Carlos Jobim, which saw singer Sylvia Telles paying her tribute to Jobim. With the remainder eight tracks on the discs featuring a selection of tracks from albums from between 1957-59.
 
The final disc in the set takes in eighty-one minutes of music and twenty-one tracks. The disc kicks off with the 1959 album Por Toda Minha Vida, which features the soaring and warbling voice of singer/ actress Lenita Bruno, and music by Jobim. With the remainder of the disc been taken up by a selection of tracks from the year 1960, that involve/ or are connected to Jobim.
 
As a boxset, The Mountains, The Sun, And Sea highlights both Jobim’s talent for melody, grand and dramatic composition, and his ability to move through different easy listening genres working with different artists. If you are interested in Bossa Nova, or ’50s-’60s easy listening fare in general- this is a must-have release!.