The Jazz Real Book

“The Girl From Ipanema” and the album Francis Albert Sinatra & Antônio Carlos Jobim (131) 
“The Girl from Ipanema” one of the most performed and beloved jazz standards reached its definitive artistic expression through two landmark recordings. The 1964 Verve release Getz/Gilberto introduced bossa nova to an international audience, pairing Stan Getz’s lyrical tenor saxophone with João Gilberto’s understated guitar and vocals, Antônio Carlos Jobim’s elegant piano, and Astrud Gilberto’s unforgettable English-language debut. The album became a historic success, winning the 1965 Grammy Award for Album of the Year while the single earned Record of the Year, firmly establishing Brazilian music within the jazz mainstream. Three years later, Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim presented a more intimate and orchestrated interpretation. Claus Ogerman’s lush yet restrained arrangements allowed Sinatra’s relaxed phrasing to blend seamlessly with Jobim’s nylon-string guitar and piano. The performance becomes especially memorable when Jobim sings in Portuguese before the two artists trade lines in both languages, creating a graceful musical dialogue that remains one of the finest cross-cultural collaborations in jazz history.
Getz/Gilberto 
Sinatra/Jobim 
The Jazz Real Book Vol 2

“Giant Steps” and the album John Coltrane Giant Steps (131) 
Released in 1960, Giant Steps is one of the defining albums in jazz history, showcasing John Coltrane's extraordinary growth as both a composer and improviser. The title track introduced the revolutionary harmonic system now known as the "Coltrane Changes," cycling through the distant key centers of B, G, and E-flat major with unprecedented speed and precision. Its angular melody outlines each chord through arpeggios and guide tones, making the complex harmony surprisingly clear while presenting one of jazz's greatest improvisational challenges. The remainder of the album reveals Coltrane's remarkable versatility, balancing the harmonic intensity of "Giant Steps" and "Countdown" with the bluesy warmth of "Cousin Mary," the lyrical beauty of "Naima," and the driving minor blues "Mr. P.C." Together, the album bridges hard bop and the more adventurous musical directions Coltrane would soon pursue, establishing a new vocabulary that continues to shape jazz performance, composition, and education today.
John Coltrane 
Pat Metheny 
The Jazz Real Book Playlist Vol. 2

“Gemini” and Jimmy Heath (130) 
“Gemini” is one of Jimmy Heath’s finest and most enduring compositions, a graceful 24-bar waltz that reflects his gift for memorable melodies and sophisticated harmony. Built around a spacious, lyrical theme and unexpected harmonic movement, the tune combines bebop vocabulary with Heath’s unmistakable melodic elegance. Since its debut on the 1962 album Triple Threat, “Gemini” has become a favorite among jazz musicians, admired for its flowing melody, subtle use of harmonic tension, and improvisational possibilities. The composition perfectly illustrates Heath’s ability to write music that is intellectually engaging while remaining highly singable.
Born in Philadelphia in 1926, Jimmy Heath became one of the most respected tenor saxophonists, composers, arrangers, and educators in jazz history. A member of the legendary Heath musical family with brothers Percy and Albert “Tootie” Heath, he overcame personal setbacks to build a remarkable career spanning more than seven decades. His compositions, including “Gingerbread Boy,” “CTA,” “For Minors Only,” and “Gemini,” have become modern jazz standards. As a performer, bandleader, and longtime professor at Queens College, Heath influenced generations of musicians with his lyrical playing, masterful writing, and deep commitment to preserving and advancing the jazz tradition.
Jimmy Heath Small Group Version 
Jimmy Heath Big Band 
The Jazz Real Book Playlist Vol.2

Al MacSween continues to emerge as one of the most creative voices in London's contemporary jazz scene with Where Rivers Meet, a remarkable collaboration between his collective Your Brother's Keeper and legendary saxophonist Gary Bartz. As pianist, synthesist, composer, and producer, MacSween creates a rich sonic landscape that blends acoustic jazz with modular synthesis and live electronics, allowing Bartz's iconic saxophone to interact with modern textures while preserving its emotional depth. Originally developing through collaborations in Maisha, the project reflects years of shared performance and musical trust. McSween's vision places collective improvisation at the center, bringing together trumpeter Axel Kaner-Lidstrom, bassist Twm Dylan, percussionist Tim Doyle, and saxophonist Chelsea Carmichael. Rather than simply accompanying a jazz legend, Your Brother's Keeper engages Bartz in a genuine artistic dialogue, demonstrating MacSween's gift for connecting generations while pushing the boundaries of spiritual and contemporary jazz.

“Full House” and Johnny Griffin (129)  
Johnny Griffin’s appearance on Wes Montgomery’s “Full House” remains one of the great examples of hard bop improvisation captured live. Recorded on June 25, 1962, at Tsubo in Berkeley, California, the performance features Montgomery with an extraordinary rhythm section of Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers, and Jimmy Cobb, along with Griffin on tenor saxophone. The tune itself, a bluesy jazz waltz in F minor composed by Montgomery, combines a Latin-flavored introduction, a memorable AABA melody, and extended solo sections that allow each musician to stretch out. Montgomery’s warm thumb-picked lines and signature octave passages are complemented perfectly by Griffin’s explosive tenor work. Nicknamed “The Little Giant,” Johnny Griffin was one of the most technically dazzling saxophonists of the hard bop era. His powerful tone, breathtaking speed, and deep bebop vocabulary made him a favorite collaborator of Thelonious Monk, Art Blakey, and many others. On “Full House,” Griffin’s soulful, swinging improvisation helps elevate the performance into one of the finest live recordings in jazz history.
Wes Montgomery 
Christian McBride 
Jazz Real Book Playlist Vol 2