I first bought WAVE on vinyl, shortly it was released, already being a fan of Jobim. I played the grooves off of it. Now, I have it in CD. It's doubtful anyone in the world has played and listened to this album more than I have over the years. The appeal is threefold: First, Jobim's music is relentlessly upbeat and mood elevating. There is a happiness and joy which never fails to make your outlook on life better. Second, the music is relaxing. It cuts through tension and removes the stress and aggravation of everyday living. Third, it's rhythmic. Brazilian beats are recognized as the most expressive and soul-moving in the world. If these rhythms don't get your body subtly moving, you'll need life supports! If you don't know Jobim or haven't listened to Brazilian Bossa Nova, start here! Jobim is the undisputed, heavyweight champion of the genre and THIS album is at the absolute top of his work. Do NOT miss it!

The best recommendation for this CD can be told in the fact that, while on a long car trip, I packed a nice selection of CDs to listen to, but this was the one that played during the entire journey! Creed Taylor, who produced this disc, was a producer of jazz for Verve in the 60s, and his name is synonymous with excellence in jazz. In the late 60s, early 70s, CTI, his label, came to be, and he also gave A&M Records his name in releasing some exquisite jazz discs. This disc is gorgeous, and certainly bears the stamp of never getting boring. And, Creed Taylor issued about 10 discs for A&M that, like this one, have exotic, spectacular covers (photographs), which once were available for framing. But I can only say, with some authority, that if you are looking for a disc for dinner music, to set a romantic evening, or for a cool getway journey by car, you can't go wrong with "Wave". It has a sequel, "Tide", equally beautiful, but "Wave" is better.

Madge Bruner Hazen

This CD is a classic, no doubt about it. It's a release that I would have to recommend to anyone that's a fan of Bossa Nova and Antonio Carlos Jobim's music. To many, Wave is like the essence of Bossa Nova and a cornerstone in the genre. Simply put, you haven't heard all there is to hear of Bossa Nova if you haven't heard this.

I love this CD - I can put it in no matter the time of day and unwind and relax. It has soothing orchestration, gentle touches of life and the musicianship is stellar, of course, and it's very romantic. It's almost like there's a song for each season of the year and once the music plays, you're taken to another place. Of all the Antonio Carlos Jobim releases, this is certainly an essential - along with Elis and Tom. So many artists have redone works here and it's safe to say that very very few of them capture the magic that the versions here do - with the notable exception of Elis Regina's "Triste" IMO.

Definitely PICK THIS UP! It's worth every penny. But be warned if you're a bit new to Bossa Nova, this isn't so much about Astrud Gilberto, Stan Getz or Joao Gilberto so the versions here are very different from theirs. And if you do pick this up and like it, certainly check out Getz/Gilberto, Elis & Tom, Astrud Gilberto and of course Joao Gilberto and work by Joyce. Oh yeah, and check out "Tide", by Antonio Carlos Jobim too. Enjoy!

As a consumer, I appreciate Jobim's genius as a creator of wonderful music and great albums. In fact, this is the most romantic instrumental album I know of, great for setting a mood, heck, some of it just plain sounds like languid sex ("Dialogo"). As a musician, I am simply in awe of Jobim's unique blend of earthiness and sophistication--the melodies, the connection to nature, the "primitive" rhythms--combined with chords and chord progressions of the highest complexity. The chords to his songs are absolutely jazz to the extreme, and yet it is all grounded by the Brazilian natural world. Jobim was a musical genius, and the main thing he brings to the world of music was....beauty. I had the pleasure of hearing a band play that consisted of Jobim's son and grandson and his cello player from when he played gigs, along with an exquisite female vocalist. They did his songs justice. The music world is a better place because of Jobim.

I got turned on to "Wave" after hearing one of Jobim's earlier albums and this one is a masterpiece. I find myself constantly playing it. My favorite tracks are "The Red Blouse", "Wave" and "Captain Bacardi". Anyone who loves the Bossa Nova/Brazilian Jazz sound, this album is a must have. Antonio Carlos Jobim was a genius