Three Guitars in Bossa Nova Time

Personnel: Herb Ellis (guitar); Johnny Gray, Johnny "Thunderbolt" Gray, Laurindo Almeida (guitar); Bob Enevoldsen (tenor saxophone); Donn Trenner (piano); Bob Bertaux (bass instrument); Chico Guerrero, Milt Holland, Bob Neel (drums).
Liner Note Author: Leonard Feather.
The title THREE GUITARS IN BOSSA NOVA TIME is misleading in that only two guitars in any instance play on the record, while tenor saxophonist Bob Enevoldsen is more important to the overall sound of the music than any other performer. In the main, guitarists Herb Ellis and Laurindo Almeida take charge on most of the songs, certainly all bossa novas and light sambas, accompanied by the pianist Donn Trenner (who worked on television with Steve Allen), bassist Bob Bertaux, lesser-known percussionists Bob Neel or Chico Guerrero, the more famous Milt Holland, and guitarist Johnny Gray on three tracks in place of Almeida. All of these selections are familiar, whether as Brazilian songs or Latinized mainstream jazz, and Ellis is upfront in the mix and definitely the leader.