Peter Bacon reports:

The death has been announced of João Gilberto, the man who, it is often said, “invented bossa nova” and who must surely be near the top of any “most reluctant artist” list as well as featuring high on the “most influential musician of the last 100 years” roll call.

According to the BBC: “Reports say Gilberto died at home in Rio de Janeiro after a period of illness. His son confirmed the news of his death in a Saturday Facebook post.

‘His fight was noble, he tried to maintain dignity,’ Marcelo Gilberto said.”

The genius of Joao Gilberto, as well as the enigma, is beautifully evoked in this piece from Ted Gioia, published early this morning by the Guardian. (It also has a link to Robin Denselow’s obituary.)

Here is Gilberto in performance: