One of the most important musicians not just in Brazil but in 20th century music as a whole, João Gilberto is credited with creating the bossa nova sound.

With the guitar as his preferred mode of expression, he refined the then-popular samba, de-emphasizing the percussive aspect of its rhythm and enriching its melodic and harmonic content, thus creating what has now become known the world round as bossa nova.

With a style that also borrowed from Latin jazz, Gilberto’s joint album with Stan Getz, Getz/Gilberto, received Grammy Awards for Best Jazz Instrumental Album and also became the first non-American album to win one for Album of the Year in 1965.

It wouldn’t be hyperbole to suggest that Gilberto’s influence shaped the entire direction of his nation’s music; honouring his great work will be London based Brazilian guitarist Josue Ferreira.