Johnny Alf – Diagonal (1964)

Johnny Alf
“Diagonal”
Released 1964 on RCA-Victor
Reissued by Sony/BMG – RCA

Johnny Alf is one of the older figures in the nascent bossa nova movement who inspired everybody and then failed to receive the same recognition as the young scrappy bunch that ended up putting it on the map. Although his name is more associated with the effloresence of that scene in the 1950s, he didn’t record until the 1960s. This is his second album. A jazz crooner of the first order, the combo backing him up is tight as can be on this record, peppered with the rhythmic organ of Celso Murilo, with wonderful brass and woodwind work going on as icing on the cake. Alf also wrote a great deal of his own material, setting him apart from the majority of singers in the genre. The title track sees him having a harmonic scat duet with himself, using overdubbing techniques that most people weren’t taking advantage of in 1964 jazz bossa. This album is a delight.

01 – Disa (Johnny Alf / Maurício Einhorn)
02 – O Céu Você (Luis Bonfá / Maria Helena Toledo)
03 – Bondinho do Pão-de-açúcar (Armando Cavalcanti / Victor Freire)
04 – Podem Falar (Johnny Alf)
05 – Vejo a Tarde Cair (Tita / Edwiges)
06 – Desejo do Mar (Marcos Valle / Paulo Sergio Valle)
07 – Céu e Mar (Johnny Alf)
08 – “Seu” Chopin Desculpe (Johnny Alf)
09 – Diagonal (Durval Ferreira / Maurício Einhorn)
10 – Moça-flor (Durval Ferreira / Luis Fernando Freire)
11 – Têrmos de Canção (Victor Freire / Johnny Alf)
12 – Triste Noturno (Zé Maria / Johnny Alf)

Celso Murilo – organ, piano, arrangements
Santos, Maurilio, Hamilton, Julinho and Wagner – trumpets
Ze Bodega – tenor sax
Aurino – baritone sax, Macaxeira and Norato
Jorginho – alto sax and flute
Macaxeira and Norato – trombones
Neco – electric guitar
Luis Marinho – bass
Edison Machado – drums
Johnny Alf – vocal

There is a biographical article about Johnny Alf, written by Duracell bunny, that you can read here

Johnny Alf – Diagonal (1964) in 320 kbs em pee three

Johnny Alf – Diagonal (1964)in FLAC LOSSLESS AUDIO format

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