Tom Jobim

Biography

Antonio Carlos Jobim, affectionately known as Tom Jobim, was born on January 25, 1927, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to cultured parents—his father a diplomat and his mother a primary school founder. Growing up amid Rio's vibrant beaches and landscapes, he studied piano and harmony, drawing influences from classical composers like Debussy and Ravel, as well as Brazilian musicians such as Pixinguinha. In the 1940s, he began playing piano in Rio's bars and nightclubs, and by the early 1950s, he worked as an arranger at Continental Studio, where his first composition, 'Incerteza,' was recorded in 1953.[1][2][3]

Fun Facts

• Jobim made his first recording in 1954 backing a vocalist as 'Tom' and His Band in nightclubs.[1]
• His score for the play Orfeu do Carnaval (1956) with Vinicius de Moraes became the film Black Orpheus (1959), winning Oscar, Golden Globe, and Cannes Palme d’Or.[1][2]
• Jobim's first composition 'Incerteza' was recorded in 1953 by singer Mauricy Moura with lyrics by Newton Mendonça.[3]
• He learned guitar influences from watching João Gilberto practice Bach, Tarrega, and Villa-Lobos, and studied with the teacher of Luís Bonfá.[6]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Debussy - classical composer influence on harmonies (general stylistic influence) [early years]
• Ravel - classical composer influence on harmonies (general stylistic influence) [early years]
• Pixinguinha - Brazilian musician inspiration (general stylistic influence) [early years]

Key Collaborators

• Vinicius de Moraes - poet and lyricist partner who co-created bossa nova standards (Orfeu da Conceição (1956), Chega de Saudade, The Girl from Ipanema) [late 1950s-1960s]
• João Gilberto - singer/guitarist who recorded key songs and pioneered bossa nova (Chega de Saudade (1958), Desafinado (1958), Getz/Gilberto (1964)) [1958-1960s]
• Stan Getz - jazz saxophonist in landmark album introducing bossa nova globally (Getz/Gilberto (1964)) [1960s]
• Astrud Gilberto - vocalist on global hit track (The Girl from Ipanema (Getz/Gilberto, 1964)) [1964]
• Luís Bonfá - co-scored film adaptation (Black Orpheus (1959)) [1956-1959]

Artists Influenced

• Stan Getz - recorded and popularized Jobim's compositions in jazz (Getz/Gilberto (1964)) [1960s]
• Charlie Byrd - performed bossa nova in US introduction concerts (Carnegie Hall 1962, Jazz Samba (1962)) [1962]
• Sergio Mendes - performed in key bossa nova US presentation (Carnegie Hall 1962) [1962]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia