Soft Samba

Soft Samba is a 1964 album by jazz arranger and vibraphonist Gary McFarland. A follow up album, Soft Samba Strings, was released in 1966.[2]

Soft Samba
Studio album by Gary McFarland
Released	March 1965
Recorded	June 15 and 16, September 3 & October 7, 1964
Studio	Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
Genre	Jazz
Length	28:57
Label	Verve - 8603 [1]
Producer	Creed Taylor
Gary McFarland chronology
Point of Departure (1963) Soft Samba (1965) The In Sound (1965)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]

Reception

The initial Billboard magazine review from February 20, 1965 wrote that even though "A pair of stretch socks, two ounces of sherry, and a "Soft Samba" cocktail recipe" were being used to promote the album, it would "curry favor with the public without the promotion incentives" and "The artist's humming helps too".[3] Boys' Life magazine wrote that "You'd think that the artists in this album couldn't talk because all you hear is "Ba-ba, baya-baya, byu-byu" and so on with little relief. The results are unique (as you'd expect) but pleasing...We found the wedding of the soft samba to rock 'n' roll a joyous union thanks to the musical ministry of Mr. McFarland".[4]

Track listing

1. "Ringo, Won't You Marry Me" (Linda Laurie, Jerry Mack) – 1:46
2. "From Russia with Love" (Lionel Bart) – 2:34
3. "She Loves You" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) – 2:16
4. "A Hard Day's Night" (Lennon, McCartney) – 3:04
5. "The Good Life" (Sacha Distel, Jack Reardon) – 2:05
6. "More (Theme from Mondo Cane)" (Riz Ortolani, Nino Oliviero, Marcello Ciorciolini, Norman Newell) – 2:18
7. "And I Love Her" (Lennon, McCartney) – 3:55
8. "The Love Goddess" (Percy Faith, Mack David) – 1:57
9. "I Want to Hold Your Hand" (Lennon, McCartney) – 3:13
10. "Emily" (Johnny Mandel, Johnny Mercer) – 1:51
11. "California, Here I Come" (Buddy DeSylva, Al Jolson, Joseph Meyer) – 1:52
12. "La Vie en Rose" (Louiguy, Édith Piaf, David) – 2:06

Personnel

• Gary McFarland - arranger, vibraphone
• Jimmy Cleveland - trombone
• Seldon Powell, Spencer Sinatra - flute
• Patty Bowen - piano
• Antônio Carlos Jobim, Kenny Burrell - guitar
• Richard Davis - double bass
• Arnie Wise, Sol Gubin, Willie Bobo - percussion

Production

• Creed Taylor - producer
• Michael J. Malatak - cover design
• Lester Bookbinder - cover photo
• Wally King - liner notes
• Rudy Van Gelder - engineer
• Val Valentin - director of engineering

References

1. "Gary McFarland - Soft Samba at Discogs". discogs.com. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
2. Soft Samba at AllMusic
3. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (20 February 1965). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 1–. ISSN 0006-2510.
4. Boy Scouts of America, Inc. (September 1965). Boys' Life. Boy Scouts of America, Inc. p. 16. ISSN 0006-8608.