ENCICLOPÉDIA MUSICAL BRASILEIRA - LUIZ BONFÁ E AS RAÍZES DA BOSSA

Luiz Bonfá’s pioneering guitar is documented in this compilation, which features recordings from the period between 1948 and 1973. The 14 tracks focus both on his work as a composer and on his innovative ways of playing acoustic guitar. Writing songs such as De Cigarro em Cigarro (1953), Sem Esse Céu (1952) and Perdido de Amor (1953), Bonfá played a definitive part within the transition from samba-tunes onto bossa nova. His modern harmonic propositions and subtle guitar technique were upheld by his liaison with the likes of Tom Jobim (his partner in Engano and A Chuva Caiu) and João Donato (partner in Minha Saudade). The album closes with Manhã de Carnaval, as interpreted by Agostinho dos Santos. The song was included in the soundtrack for Marcel Camus’ film Orfeu Negro, becoming Bonfá’s trademark worldwide. The CD booklet brings a revealing testimony by Bonfá, who discloses how he formulated his matchless guitar skills.(Carlos Calado)