Bossa Nova U.S.A.

Since 1955, Brubeck had composed and performed pieces originating from influences outside of the European musical tradition, in which this album, released during the bossa nova craze in the United States of the late 1950s and early 1960s, can be best categorized.{{cite book |last1=Storb |first1=Ilse|last2=Fischer |first2=Klaus G. |date=1994 |title=Dave Brubeck Improvisations and Compositions – The Idea of Cultural Exchange |location=New York |publisher=Peter Lang Publishing, Inc. |page=10 |translator=Bert Thompson |isbn=0-8204-2003-4}} It is intended to be "impressionistic" of "the cool wave from Brazil."{{cite book |last1=Storb |first1=Ilse|last2=Fischer |first2=Klaus G. |date=1994 |title=Dave Brubeck Improvisations and Compositions – The Idea of Cultural Exchange |location=New York |publisher=Peter Lang Publishing, Inc. |page=89 |translator=Bert Thompson |isbn=0-8204-2003-4}} Recorded through most of 1962, and released early in 1963, the album was designed to be effective on the pop charts. All tracks were recorded in New York City. Five tracks were recorded on January 3, 1962 in a session dedicated to bossa nova.{{cite web |url=http://www.jazzdisco.org/dave-brubeck/discography/ |title=Dave Brubeck Discography |publisher=Jazz Discography Project|accessdate=September 29, 2014}} Two additional tracks were recorded on Thursday, July 5 that year in another dedicated session, while an additional two were recorded the same day the next week in a session with an additional track that appeared on the 1965 album My Favorite Things. The last track to be recorded was the title track, laid down on October 25, 1962 in a session that also included three songs appearing elsewhere. This album sits in stark contrast to the "time"-themed series of albums, in that each track is typified simply by a samba-based rhythm.{{cite book |last1=Storb |first1=Ilse|last2=Fischer |first2=Klaus G. |date=1994 |title=Dave Brubeck Improvisations and Compositions – The Idea of Cultural Exchange |location=New York |publisher=Peter Lang Publishing, Inc. |page=91 |translator=Bert Thompson |isbn=0-8204-2003-4}}

In advance of the album, the title track was released as a single (Columbia 42651) in the last week of 1962, with "This Can't Be Love" as the B-side.{{cite news |author= |title=Spotlight Singles of the Week |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TRgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT15 |newspaper=Billboard |date=December 29, 1962 |page=14 |accessdate=October 2, 2014}} This met with moderate success, peaking at #69 on the Billboard Hot 100.{{cite book |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |title=Top Pop Singles 1955–1999|year=2000 |publisher=Record Research, Inc. |location=Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin |isbn=0-89820-139-X |page=82}} The album followed soon in early 1963.

On release, Billboard called the album "first-class Brubeck." While noting the number of bossa tracks, it particularly singled out a re-working of The Trolley Song as a standout track. The Age expected the record to be popular with the general public, but noted "purists will wince." The album found more success with the public than the single, appearing for fifteen weeks on Billboard{{'}}s album charts, achieving position #14.{{cite book |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |date=1996 |title=Joel Whitburn's top pop albums, 1955–1996 |url=https://archive.org/details/joelwhitburnstopp00whit|url-access=registration |publisher=Record Research Inc. |page=[https://archive.org/details/joelwhitburnstopp00whit/page/112 112]}}

In 1998, the album was released in Japan as a CD, in mini LP format, in the "Sony Master Sound" series as Sony Records SRCS 9364.{{Cite web|url=http://www.davebrubeckjazz.com/Recordings/Detail/Bossa-Nova-USA/0042|title=Recordings|website=Dave Brubeck Jazz}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/goods/detail/280363|title=デイヴ・ブルーベック「ボサ・ノヴァ Ｕ．Ｓ．Ａ．」 | SRCS-9364 | 4988009936499 ||website=Billboard JAPAN}}

All tracks composed by Dave Brubeck, except where indicated:

{{Track listing

| collapsed =

| headline =

| extra_column = Recording date

| total_length = 40:48

| title1 = Bossa Nova U.S.A.

| note1 =

| extra1 = October 25, 1962

| length1 = 2:24

| title2 = Vento Fresco (Cool Wind)

| note2 =

| extra2 = January 3, 1962

| length2 = 3:30

| title3 = The Trolley Song

| writer3 = Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane

| extra3 = July 5, 1962

| length3 = 3:04

| title4 = Theme for June

| writer4 = Howard Brubeck

| extra4 = July 12, 1962

| length4 = 4:15

| title5 = Coracao Sensivel

| writer5 = Teo Macero

| extra5 = January 3, 1962

| length5 = 4:10

| title6 = Irmao Amigo

| note6 =

| extra6 = January 3, 1962

| length6 = 3:22

| title7 = There'll Be No Tomorrow

| writer7 = Iola Brubeck, Dave Brubeck

| extra7 = July 12, 1962

| length7 = 5:42

| title8 = Cantiga Nova Swing

| note8 =

| extra8 = January 3, 1962

| length8 = 2:46

| title9 = Lamento

| note9 =

| extra9 = January 3, 1962

| length9 = 4:45

| title10 = This Can't Be Love

| writer10 = Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart

| extra10 = July 5, 1962

| length10 = 3:45

}}

• Dave Brubeck – piano
• Paul Desmond – saxophone
• Joe Morello – drums
• Eugene Wright – double bass

{{reflist}}

{{Dave Brubeck Quartet}}

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Category:1963 albums

Category:Columbia Records albums

Category:Dave Brubeck albums

Category:Albums produced by Teo Macero

Category:1960s instrumental albums