Laurindo Almeida

Laurindo Almeida was a Brazilian-American classical and jazz guitarist, composer and arranger. Born in 1917 in Brazil, he moved to the United States in 1947 and went on to become one of the most influential and pioneering figures in jazz guitar. He collaborated with a variety of artists over the course of his career, including Charlie Parker, Stan Getz, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra.

Almeida's most famous and influential work was with the Modern Jazz Quartet, who he joined in 1952. He was instrumental in creating the group's unique sound, blending jazz and classical elements, and wrote a number of their most popular songs, including "Brasilia," "Viva," and "The Girl From Ipanema."

Almeida's solo albums, such as "Guitar From Ipanema" (1959), "Guitar From Hollywood" (1964) and "The Great Laurindo Almeida" (1967), also helped define the sound of jazz guitar. Standout tracks include "Blue Bossa," "Desafinado," and "Bluesette."

An interesting fact about Almeida is that he was one of the first musicians to introduce bossa nova to the United States, having played a prominent role in the development of the genre during the 1960s. He is widely considered to be the "Godfather of Bossa Nova."