Subjects / Bossa nova and Brazilian music

Best books to learn Bossa nova and Brazilian music, in order

Bossa nova was made by a small number of people in a few Rio apartment buildings between roughly 1958 and 1963, and it is best understood as a compression of samba rather than a break from it — João Gilberto took the rhythm apart and put it back together for one guitar and a half-spoken voice, and Antônio Carlos Jobim supplied harmony borrowed from Debussy and American jazz.

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Reading paths for bossa nova and brazilian music

Popular bossa nova and brazilian music books

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Frequently asked questions

How should I approach learning bossa nova and brazilian music?
Bossa nova was made by a small number of people in a few Rio apartment buildings between roughly 1958 and 1963, and it is best understood as a compression of samba rather than a break from it — João Gilberto took the rhythm apart and put it back together for one guitar and a half-spoken voice, and Antônio Carlos Jobim supplied harmony borrowed from Debussy and American jazz.
What's a good book to start bossa nova and brazilian music with?
A strong starting point is Music in Brazil by John P. Murphy. The ordered reading paths above show exactly where it fits and what to read next.
What should I read after bossa nova and brazilian music?
Once you have the fundamentals, explore closely related subjects like American folk music, Afrobeat and African popular music.

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