Came across the review below on Discogs, and immediately realized that it was far superior to anything I could write.
Surely many people will be put off by the idea of a 1960s album focused on the hype of Bossa Nova and its standards, as the overexploitation of this trend in jazz didn't always yield good results, falling into cliché. This isn't the case. First, we have the magic of Creed Taylor surrounding Desmond with great Brazilian musicians (Airto Moreira, Dorio Ferreira...), introducing an orchestra of nine violins, two cellos, Ron Carter on double bass, flutes, trombone, horn, etc. An orchestral marvel that supports Desmond's lyrical and legato tone. Second, it doesn't rely on Bossa Nova superhits. The repertoire focuses on two young Brazilian musicians of the time: Milton Nascimento and Edu Lobo. And it also features Lobo himself singing some songs. The result is fantastic in terms of textures, lyricism, and orchestral atmosphere. A truly outstanding work that conveys precisely what the title says. It's like the sensation of the sun hitting your skin on a warm, pleasant summer afternoon. Soft but not cloying. Comfortable and refreshing. As Desmond himself acknowledged, on this record, "I had a vague idea that I wanted to sound like a Dry Martini."
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