Bossa Nova is alive and well…

Lunch with Paula Morelenbaum and Bill Broadfoot, prior to Paula’s gig at Birdland

Friday’s sold-out ‘BossaBrazil’ show at Birdland included a tribute to Astrud Gilberto’s landmark recording of “The Girl From Ipanema,” which is approaching its 50th anniversary. At Birdland it was sung impeccably by the Brazilian bossa nova star Paula Morelenbaum, who shared the bill with another Brazilian great, keyboardist/songwriter Marcos Valle. Before the gig, I had lunch with Atlanta composer/arranger Bill Broadfoot & Paula (see photo); the two are collaborating on a new version of another Astrud song, “Only Trust Your Heart.”