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(87) “Desafinado” and Herbie Mann
Standards Ratings 7 Difficult Rating 7
Herbie Mann (1930–2003) was a pioneering jazz flutist whose openness to global sounds helped shape the spread of bossa nova in the United States. At a time when the flute was not widely recognized as a primary jazz voice, Mann’s technical agility and adventurous spirit set him apart. In the early 1960s, he traveled to Brazil and became captivated by the emerging bossa nova style, collaborating with Brazilian musicians and recording albums such as Do the Bossa Nova with Herbie Mann (1962). His interpretation of Antônio Carlos Jobim’s Desafinado highlighted the instrument’s lyrical possibilities while introducing American listeners to the syncopated phrasing and harmonic subtleties of Brazilian music. Mann’s 1962 album Right Now! featured a notable version of the tune with vibraphone, guitar, and Latin percussion, emphasizing both rhythmic drive and melodic elegance. By championing Desafinado and other bossa nova standards, Mann played a crucial role in popularizing the style internationally.