Bossa nova is a style of Brazilian music invented in the late 1950s by a group of middle-class students living in Copacabana. In Brasil, it became well known by a Long Playing record entitled Chega de Saudade, which featured João Gilberto and Eliseth Cardoso singing the title song by Antonio Carlos Jobim. The record was released in 1958.
The music derives from the samba but is more complex melodically and less percussive. The genre is highly influenced by jazz and became massively popular in Brazil and elsewhere in Latin America, though its international success was limited to brief periods of popularity, such as after the release of the film Black Orpheus.
It is not consensus that Bossa nova can be called a movement. However, it is recognized its importance in brasilian music history. It introduced complex harmonies, close relationship between text and music, and a general concern for arrangement and musical form. It influenced later movements such as the Tropicália and the Canção de Protesto. Bossa nova repertoire consists predominantely of songs, while the instrumental music similar to it is generally called samba-jazz.
Perhaps the best known bossa nova song is Antonio Carlos Jobim's "The Girl from Ipanema," which is widely known in both its original Portuguese and in English translation.
Here is an example of a basic bossa nova rhythm as would be played on a guitar, using a C9, or C Major added 9 chord. The guitar would be acoustic and played without a pick.
List of bossa nova artists
