There are very few records that one can point to and confidently say they are genre-defining in every sense of the term, Chega de saudade happens to be one of them. Bossa Nova is undeniably a significant part of Brazilian music history, and Chega de Saudade seems to be the first recording that launched bossa nova into the (Brazilian) public eye in the LP format. The majority of the songs found on this album, especially "Chega de Saudade" and "Desafinado", have been recorded many times by many Brazilian artists and will most likely continue to be recorded until people stop recording bossa nova entirely. Even without focusing on the main man here, just a quick glance of the credits reveals the names of greats such as Antonio Carlos Jobim, who is the king of this era of Brazilian pop music in terms of compositions, and Vinícius de Moraes, a poet and singer who wrote lyrics to many songs of this era that went on to become Brazilian standards.
It is not an exaggeration to say that João Gilberto was born to play this type of music. Gilberto's soft technique, whether in reference to how he sings or how he delicately strums his guitar, is iconic and often imitated in the bossa nova genre. His approach perfectly captures what often draws bossa nova fans to the genre: it's simple, catchy, and warm, but at the same time is capable of being quite melancholic. The best example of this is the title track here, which is beautiful, and could be mistaken to be a happy song if one does not understand or pay attention to the lyrics. "Chega de Saudade" is best characterized by the longing, the saudade one feels when they are away from their significant other. Gilberto's style here is pretty much the musical equivalent to a light summer breeze, a phrase that is often used to describe the bossa nova genre as a whole. This isn't a coincidence, as Gilberto is from Bahia, a region of Brazil known for its beautiful beaches.
The backing musicians here, the most notable name being Jobim on piano, often take on small roles in the arrangements, adding on minimal, but always tastefully placed, instrumentation to compliment Gilberto's fantastic singing. A great example of this is how the trombone comes in and out of the track throughout "Brigas, Nunca Mais." In terms of the backing musicians, a highlight has to be how the flute is used - it is a really important part of this albums' breezy summer vibe. The background instrumentation, be it Copinha's beautiful flute or a small arrangement of strings, rarely takes Gilberto and his guitar out of the spotlight and provides a nice touch of instrumental variety.
This is an essential album for anyone who even has a cursory interest in Brazilian music. Chega de saudade is a perfect place to start one's journey into the world of bossa nova or Brazilian music in general. João Gilberto has a fantastic discography that fans of Chega de saudade will most likely be able to appreciate. Even though Gilberto has an extremely strong discography, this record is still its crown jewel.
