“Blue Bossa” (PDF) from the Joe Pass & J.J. Johnson album, We’ll Be Together Again

The global sensation that became known as bossa nova is credited to Brazilian guitarist João Gilberto, who combined native samba rhythms with the European classical guitar, but historians point to a 1961 American state-sponsored festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as the moment when prominent jazz figures were first exposed to the new beat. That experience influenced trumpeter Kenny Dorham to compose “Blue Bossa” in response to bebop’s evolution into hard bop and soul music, and the tune was first recorded with saxophonist Joe Henderson for his 1963 album, Page One.

Author Ted Gioia notes that the tune is neither a proper blues or bossa nova, and that its legacy was established in academia as a vehicle for learning jazz improvisation because of its simplistic nature - if Miles Davis’ “So What” is the first tune that jazz students learn, then “Blue Bossa” is the second. With its elongated ii-V7-I progressions and shifting minor-major tonality, “Blue Bossa” has become a standard jazz warmup. Even trombonist J.J. Johnson’s improvisation on this recording with guitarist Joe Pass lacks the adventurous spirit of bebop exploration - his trademark falling-triplet pattern only appears halfway through the solo as if his chops had finally loosened up to show off his dexterity.

Here’s a YouTube video of J.J. Johnson performing a version of “Blue Boss” in 1993 with more of a funk and bebop vibe to it:

Recommended Reading: Exercises And Etudes For The Jazz Instrumentalist by J.J. Johnson. Published by Hal Leonard.