Astrud Gilberto

Astrud's singularly pure and almost vibrato-less voice has the ability to send chills down your spine, whether she's singing in English or Portuguese. Bursting on the scene from nowhere in the mid-1960s, Gilberto won the world over (and a Grammy, as well) with her smooth rendition of "The Girl From Ipanema." Having previously been Joao Gilberto's translator, wife and assistant, Astrud caught the ear of Stan Getz with her impromptu home performances of Joao's (and Antonio Carlos Jobim's) laid-back Brazilian songs. Before moving on to Disco-influenced Funk in the '70s, Astrud's luscious vocals graced the arrangements and recordings of Jobim, Getz, Don Sebesky and Gil Evans, among others. Do yourself a favor: find a loved one and a bottle of wine and relax by the fire to some of the best Bossa Nova ever recorded.