Milton Banana: 'O ritmo e o som da bossa nova,' 1963

The LP shows off the Brazilian drummer's lyrical and intricate artistry

Brazil’s Milton Banana is best known in the U.S. as the drummer on Getz/Gilberto, the first major bossa nova album, released by Verve in 1964. The LP made The Girl From Ipanema a hit and vocalist Astrud Gilberto a superstar. Banana also was on João Gilberto’s groundbreaking record Chega de Saudade. On that 1958 album, Banana established the bossa’s sophisticated beat. [Photo above of Milton Banana]