Antonio Carlos Jobim
The Composer of Desafinado, Plays (Verve 521 431)

The Composer Plays is often heralded as a classic (this edition is part of Verve's Master Edition series) but in reality it's just a good, soothing album. Similar in feel to McCoy Tyner's What the World Needs Now, this album contains a bunch of friendly, familiar melodies in essentially elevator-music arrangements. Of course, elevator music is not always a bad thing.

At several points in this album, you get the walking-around-Walgreen's feel, but mostly it's a nice mood album for those nights when you can no longer samba but you can still drink heavily. It's martini music, for sure, but it sure cleanses the palette if you've inadvertently heard Linkin Park or some such bullcrap.

"Agua de Beber" is excellent, and the cellos on "Insensatez" are all spine-tingly. Most of the great moments on this album also appear on Jobim's Verve Jazz Masters release, which is quite a bit more satisfying.

The Composer Plays should be your, like, fifth Jobim purchase. Though you probably only need one or two.

Loud Bassoon rating scale

Review by Legolas Wilkinson