“WAVE”

I’m so often reminded that the 1960s gave us such a wonderful variety of music, and along with it, in my opinion, came the very best artists of their time to bring it all to us.  Remarkably, many of these styles were totally new, diverse genres converging on the American music scene at about the same time.  It was a bit confusing, a little chaotic, even unsettling, and yet amazingly wonderful. In that decade, we continued to be enriched with music from, for example, the full production musicals of Broadway, inspiring orchestral scoring and conducting from Leonard Bernstein, flower power from The Mamas and the Papas, the “bigger than life” Sinatra sound with his cohorts who called themselves “The Rat Pack”, and the “other worldly” harmonies of the 5th Dimension.  Mancini was ever so reliable, always musically perfect and poignant at this time. 

But then there came Jobim.  Gentle and elegant, relaxing and somewhat introspective in a uniquely Brazilian way.  His music was distinct, exceptional – offering us something rather unexpected.  It stopped us in our tracks really.  It made us pause.  For a moment, it certainly transported us to an almost singular sound experience that simply broke through everything else. 

Astrud Gilberto led us there, and we listened, curiously and intently.  Ah… the captivating sound of Astrud.  Young, innocent, unpretentious, and seemingly a little oblivious to the rest of the world.  Her voice was in some ways almost flat and unemotional, but still she was perfect – even a bit mysterious.   What we needed to hear then…  what we still need to hear today. 

In our musical arrangement of “Wave”, found on our “Sound demos” page, we are held captive by the forward moving motion of Bohm Sempra's “Classic Bosa Nova” style in a basic, yet seductive way, paired with the lighthearted innocence of the guitar and flute playing the melody. The wave of emotion suggested by the lyrics appropriately encourages us to go even further - from a playful flute and seductive "ballad trumpet” to the popular 60’s sounds of full, contemporary brass harmonies, and electronic organ. 

Those Major 7ths, 9ths and 6ths chords when these ensembles play make their respective sections shine in the repeat. In fact, they celebrate them.  A smooth string ensemble gives a touch of 60s elegance in just the right places, and we are brought back once again to the song’s real innocence at the same place as where we started. The orchestration in this arrangement really gives us a tour of 1960s sounds and unmistakable harmonies. 

So much of the music of this decade will be with us for years to come.  But stop and listen, whenever you can, to Jobim and Astrud.  Picture an unassuming young girl trying to tell us something about life and love, no matter how old we are, or where we are at that moment. You may even want to find that classic Jobim accompanying Sinatra concert video. Simple. Pure. A classic duo of two very diverse worlds, comfortably together in a Bosa Nova style mood, in the midst of the 1960s, in a setting that only Jobim could have weaved together so naturally! 

Jim Vogelman for Bohm Organs and Keyboards America, Copyright June 9, 2025