Bossa nova radically changed Brazilian music and had world repercussion. Amongst its innovations was the propagation of the practice of dissonant chords, modulated harmonies, intimate interpretations, economic instrumentals and colloquial lyricism. With roots in traditional samba, what resulted was a more elaborate genre, developed by musicians with jazz and erudite information.

The emergence of this movement goes back to the first recordings, in 1958-59, of the singer and guitar player from Bahia, João Gilberto. The very name, bossa nova, came from the unconventionalism of his interpretation, associable to singing-talking, and his beat on the instrument, marked by a different touch that soon became popular.

Antonio Carlos Jobim (1927-1994) was another leader of the movement and its greatest composer. The manifesto-songs "Desafinado" (Out of tune) and "Samba de uma nota só" (Samba of one note only) are by this carioca (from Rio de Janeiro) composer, with the lyrics by Newton Mendonça. Also his are the classic "Chega de saudade" (Enough saudade) and "Garota de Ipanema" (Girl from Ipanema) composed with the poet Vinicius de Moraes, the latter is one of the songs most played worldwide.

Originally performed in middle-class neighborhoods in Rio de Janeiro, bossa nova soon exploded nationwide and worldwide. Abroad it began to be known after a festival at Carnegie Hall in New York in 1962, with the presence of its most important representatives. In 1963 the sax player Stan Getz recorded with João Gilberto and in 1967 Frank Sinatra made a record with Tom Jobim.