In this video, I discuss the composition "Rapaz De Bem" which was composed in 1952-53 and exhibits characteristics in harmony, melody, and instrumentation that would become main aspects of the famous Brazilian music movement, Bossa Nova, 5-6 years later. Johnny Alf, a great Brazilian musician who connected samba and jazz in the beginning of the 1950s, composed the song and used to perform in Rio where many famous musicians such as Tom Jobim, Joao Gilberto, and Joao Donato would listen to him.

In the Play-along Series, I record world-renowned musicians performing Brazilian music classics, providing you with the best reference to listen to and learn from. For this song, I have Helio Alves on piano (Yo Yo Ma, Airto Moreira, Duduka da Fonseca, Paquito D’Rivera), Itaiguara Brandão on bass (Diane Reeves, Romero Lubambo, Ivan Lins, Marcos Valle), and Marcio Philomena on guitar (Nilson Matta, Montreux competition finalist).

I hope you enjoy it!