The Gentleman and Bossa Nova
Hello there,
For weeks now I have been meaning to write an article on Bossa Nova. Luckily I don’t have to. By chance one of our crew mates aboard the HMS Humidor was ‘stranded’ in South America and has sent us correspondence of his journeys. Therefore I shall leave you in his capable hands…
“To whomever finds this message in an empty rum bottle, sorry there is no rum.
As a member of the group that explored the South Pole to discover Shackleton’s lost Scotch collection, I had the good fortunate to pay an unexpected but much appreciated visit to Brazil. While here I have mastered the guitar on the beaches of Rio De Janeiro. In particular I have picked up the sophisticated genre of bossa nova. There was a girl from Ipanema that loved my playing, in hindsight I should have written a song about her.
Tom Jobim and Joao Gilberto know all about playing on the beach. Sometimes they even played their guitars.
A local chap by the name of Pele taught me how to play “futbol.” The sport is much like a game of the same name from England except the climate is much warmer.
Pele knows how to play football and wear a suit, sometimes together.
Post-match I enjoyed a discussion on the meaning of life and moustaches over a bottle of Cachaca with player, doctor and philosopher Socrates (not to be confused with the Greek philosopher, though he too knows a good time).
Socrates:
athletic, intellectual and purveyor of fine moustaches.
While there I also managed to start my own band and performed across the country.
Andy Williams and Antonio Carlos Jobim
opening for my show.
Unfortunately duty called and I had to return to the capital to host a soiree for a number of South American’s heads of state and the like.
Brazilian President Juscelino
Kubitschek had to be on the invite list since I was using his stationary for the invitations.
I decided some respite was in order so I called in on Antonio Carlos Jobim and enjoyed of a box of Monte Pascoal cigars together. The cigars were delicious and really hit their mark by the third box.
Antonio Carlos Jobim would smoke a cigar until there was literally nothing left. A technique that is now referred to as ‘pulling a Jobim’.
After a few weeks of respite with A.C. Jobim, Frank Sinatra turned up for his annual ‘Bossa Nova’ fix. Many a tune was played and many a tuxedo was worn I can tell you.
Frank Sinatra and Antonio Carlos Jobim performing together in front of what appears to be a giant spider’s web.
Until the next time or as they say in Portuguese “Até a próxima vez”
B.N. Sheffield
Reblogged this on My Journal and commented:
The Gentleman and Bossa Nova, featured on the “Gentleman.” Written by Bnova’s Very Own Brian K
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Nice! Ah to have lived the life on the beaches of Rio in the early sixties. I like to strive for that attitude and outlook today in this world and it’s sorry state of affairs.
Dear Sirs,
Not meaning to be untoward, but when one follows one on Twitter, one expects reciprocal arrangements in good faith.
Yours faithfully,
W.E. Demers