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Verve’s Acoustic Sounds Series reissue of Jazz Samba Encore! is a carefully specified 180-gram LP, cut from the original analog master tape and housed in a tip-on gatefold jacket. Reviewer Mark Smotroff reports that his copy is exceptionally quiet and remarkably close to his original pressing in sound and presentation. That is one listener’s comparison, not a controlled or independent test—but it gives buyers a useful account of what to expect from this intimate 1963 Getz, Bonfá and Maria Toledo session.
What is Jazz Samba Encore!?
Released in 1963, Jazz Samba Encore! brings Stan Getz back into a Brazilian-jazz setting after the success of 1962’s Jazz Samba, his collaboration with guitarist Charlie Byrd. The 1964 Getz/Gilberto is often treated as the starting point for Getz’s bossa nova work, but this album is an earlier chapter: Brazilian musicians including guitarist Luiz Bonfá and pianist Antonio Carlos Jobim join Getz here.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Jazz Samba Encore | $13.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Jazz Samba / Jazz Samba Encore - Includes Bonus Track | $12.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Jazz Samba Encore - SHM-CD | $16.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Jazz Samba Encore (Shm) | $66.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Getz, Stan Jazz Samba Encore Cool | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Verve dates the recording to February and March 1963 and describes it as more intimate and introspective than Jazz Samba. Getz’s tenor saxophone and Bonfá’s guitar shape the sound, while Maria Toledo contributes vocals and percussion. Jobim appears on piano and guitar on selected tracks.
Universal Music Italia’s catalog credits Creed Taylor as producer and Val Valentin as recording supervisor, with Ray Hall, Phil Ramone and Bob Simpson as recording engineers. The album’s comparatively small-scale, restrained character makes surface noise and the balance between saxophone, guitar and voice especially relevant when considering a vinyl edition.
#1 Best Overall
What is different about the Verve Acoustic Sounds LP?
Verve describes the Acoustic Sounds Series edition as a remastered 180-gram record made from an analog-tape transfer, with deluxe gatefold packaging. Acoustic Sounds provides more specific production details: Matthew Lutthans mastered the LP at The Mastering Lab from the original analog master tape; Quality Record Pressings pressed the disc, and Stoughton Printing made the old-style tip-on gatefold jacket.
That information identifies the tape source and the people and facilities involved, but it does not establish how this edition compares sonically with every historic or modern pressing. Buyers weighing editions can use the documented mastering provenance, pressing plant, jacket construction and track sequence as concrete points of comparison; broad claims of superiority would require a direct comparison that the available review does not provide.
Rank #2
How does the reissue sound?
In his review for ecoustics, Mark Smotroff describes his copy as very quiet, a welcome quality for music with the exposed, intimate texture of this session. He says it comes remarkably close to his original pressing in sound, look and feel, and notes that the gatefold resembles his vintage sleeve.
Those are Smotroff’s subjective impressions based on his own copies—not measured surface-noise results or a controlled test. His account is most useful as a report that the copy he reviewed played quietly and that its sound and presentation compared favorably with his original. It cannot guarantee the condition or sound of every copy, or settle how this LP fares against other pressings.
Rank #3
What tracks are on the LP?
The Verve store lists ten tracks in this order:
- “Sambalero”
- “Só Danço Samba (I Only Dance Samba)”
- “Insensatez (How Insensitive)”
- “O Morro Não Tem Vez (Favela)”
- “Samba de Duas Notas (Two Note Samba)”
- “Menina Flor”
- “Mania de Maria”
- “Saudade Vem Correndo”
- “Um Abração no Getz (A Tribute to Getz)”
- “Ebony Samba”
Universal Music Italia’s broader catalog lists “Ebony Samba (Second Version)” and “Ebony Samba (First Version)” separately. The Verve LP listing includes one track, “Ebony Samba”; it does not list those two versions as separate bonus or alternate takes.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is this edition worth considering?
If you want this specific album on vinyl, the edition has clearly stated tape-source and mastering details, a named pressing plant, and a tip-on gatefold jacket. Smotroff’s favorable report of quiet playback and vintage-like presentation is an encouraging signal, especially for listeners concerned about surface noise on subdued music, but it remains one reviewer’s experience rather than a promise about every copy.
Rank #4
There is no comprehensive head-to-head comparison here with original pressings or other reissues, so the evidence does not support calling it the definitive or best-sounding edition. Treat availability and price as changeable: check the Verve or Acoustic Sounds listing for current terms, and confirm that a retailer is offering the Acoustic Sounds Series LP rather than another edition.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Sources and edition details
- Verve Record Store: album listing, LP track sequence and series description
- ecoustics: Mark Smotroff’s reissue review
- Universal Music Italia: catalog metadata and credits
- Acoustic Sounds: mastering, pressing and jacket specifications
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
