`The Composer of Desafinado, Plays,' released in 1963 on Verve Records, marked the U.S. debut of Brazilian songwriter and pianist Antonio Carlos Jobim as a bandleader and documents the beginning of what would become a long-term creative relationship between Jobim and arranger Claus Ogerman that helped define the international sound of bossa nova. Recorded in New York in 1962 and produced by Creed Taylor, the 12-song instrumental set pairs Jobim's understated guitar and piano work with Ogerman's lush orchestral arrangements, backed by a mostly American studio ensemble with select Brazilian contributors. With its soft textures, streamlined rhythms, and harmonic richness, the record emphasizes the poised intimacy that became a hallmark of Jobim's songwriting - cementing his role as both architect and ambassador of the bossa nova movement. The Verve Vault Series is always mastered from analog tapes and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal.
