The Unknown (Dig)
Among the bossa nova masters, Antonio Carlos Jobim's particular gifts included composition, arrangements, and his literal invention of the bossa nova form back in the 1950s. This giant had a long and illustrious career before passing in 1994, and his twilight years saw him still at the height of his powers. Here in 1987 with his final working band, which includes cellist Jacques Morelenbaum and singers Paula Morelenbaum and Danilo Caymmi, Jobim does a live-in-the-studio recording of many of his classics as well as few previously unrecorded tunes. While his vocals have never been a strong point, he gives soulful performances of several songs. His arrangements, on the other hand, are as poignant as you'd expect from master working with friends in the comfort of his home studio. There are many great recordings of Antonio Carlos Jobim, and this isn't the first to go to, but previously unreleased music from the maestro is always worth a look. Never more so than here.--Tad Hendrickson