“As Philippe Lesage shows, there was already something in the air, something about to hatch, before Chega de Saudade, João Gilberto's historic disc marking the birth of Bossa Nova. It was the alchemy between the harmonic writing of Garoto, the first steps of Antonio Carlos Jobim himself, the rhythms of Dom Um Romao and the purity of Sylvia Teles’ voice which led, unconsciously and inevitably, to Bossa Nova. And here we can also enjoy João Gilberto’s debut recordings.” Patrick Fremeaux