One of the fathers of bossa nova, Johnny Alf’s work in the 1950’s helped launch the popularity of the genre. While not as well known as A.C. Jobim outside Brazil, he is higly regarded as a musician’s musician. HIs haunting melody to a love in vain is a testament that his greatness lives on in his compositions.
lyrics
Eu acho engraçado
Quando um certo alguém
Se aproxima de mim
Trazendo exuberância
Que me extasia
Meus olhos sentem
Minhas mãos transpiram
É um amor que eu guardo há muito
Dentro em mim
E é a voz do coração que canta assim
Assim
Olha, somente um dia
Longe dos teus olhos
Trouxe a saudade do amor tão perto
E o mundo inteiro fez-se tão tristonho
Mas embora agora eu tenha perto
Eu acho graça do meu pensamento
A conduzir o nosso amor discreto
Sim, amor discreto pra uma só pessoa
Pois nem de leve sabes que eu te quero
E me apraz essa ilusão à toa
I find it amusing when a certain someone is close to me,
Bringing exhilaration that enchants me.
My eyes are affected, My hands sweat.
It is a love that I guard very deep inside of me,
And it is the voice of my heart that sings thus, like this …
Look, only a day far from your eyes
Can bring the longing for a love so close,
And my whole world becomes so very sad.
But now, even so, I hold you close to me.
I find grace in my imagination
To bring create our discreet love.
Yes, a discreet love for only one person,
Since apparently you don’t even know I love you,
And it pleases me, this illusion in vain.
credits
from Final Master's Recital,
released March 29, 2013
Chris Bates - Bass; Greg Byers - Cello; Lucia Newell - Voice; Chris Olson - Guitar; Kristin Sponcia - Piano; Dave Stanoch - Drums
How could I not like a fellow alum of both U of Miami and CalArts?! Really creative, he's not afraid to push the boundaries in any direction. The results are always fascinating. Greg Byers