Partly because of its Brazilian collaborators and partly because of "The Girl From Ipanema," Getz/Gilberto is nearly always acknowledged as the Stan Getz bossa nova LP. But Jazz Samba is just as crucial and groundbreaking; after all, it came first, and in fact was the first full-fledged bossa nova album ever recorded by American jazz musicians.
The album Jazz Samba was a massive hit, topping the charts and sparking the American bossa nova craze with the single "Desafinado." Beyond its commercial success and introduction of jazz standards like "One Note Samba," the record is praised for its sophisticated harmony and beauty. While Stan Getz is the star, guitarist Charlie Byrd actually brought the style to the U.S., and together they perfectly captured the genre's light, airy feel.