Song of the Month / Águas de Março

[Piet De Ridder]

It being March, let’s devote some time to, in my and many other people’s opinion, one of the greatest songs ever written, and certainly one of the most amazing bossa pieces: “Águas de Março” or, in English, “Waters Of March”, by Antonio Carlos Jobim.
I’ve listened countless times to countless versions — a few brilliant ones, many average ones and a lot of awful ones — and I still can’t get over what an inspired session of writing resulted in this song, in March of 1972, from its mesmerizing opening Bb7 chord with the seventh (Ab) in the bass, which is the start of a truly beautiful chord progression and a brilliant melody.

One of the most acclaimed versions is the one by Elis Regina and Jobim:



Among my favourites is the version by Sant Andreu Jazz Band led by Joan Chamorro. Chamorro, multi-instrumentalist/educator/bandleader more than deserves his own thread. (For starters, do watch the 2012 "A Film About Kids And Music".) For many years he's been working with young talented musicians, building a very fine big band with them, and helping more than a few of them on the road to world renown, a.o. Andrea Motis, Alba Armengou, Eva Férnandez, Rita Payés, Magalí Datzira and Èlia Bastida.

This version of “Águas de Março” is more than a decade old by now, when Rita Payés (outstanding singer and trombone player) and Alba Armengou were still teenagers, and the planets must have been perfectly aligned that evening because everything about this performance is irresistibly good. Nice tenor solo from Joel Frahm as well. And don't forget: all of the musicians in the band are younger than 20 years.



For a long time, my favourite version: Stacey Kent.



Also good: Lisa Ono, joined by Jobim's grandson Daniel Jobim and using an arrangement somewhat inspired by the very first recording of the song (which used five flutes):



And here's a transcription of the Elis Regina and Jobim version:



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[Lawrence]

One of my favorite tunes of all time, and the Ellis Regina/Jobim rendition is the one I go back to the most often. It’s charming to watch as well.

I’m also very fond of Stacey Kent’s version.