I'll Blame It On The Samba – Ray Bryant & Tina May

I'll Blame It On The Samba is the vocal version of Ray Bryant's Samba Elegante. It's a sensual but sunny bossa that shows just how thrilling Brazilian rhythms can be—both in the lyric and in the arrangement. It's a great exercise for a vocalist who wants to work on syncopation and rhythm, as it is full of challenging and fun rhythmic patterns that are sure to get everyone dancing.

Our audio excerpt begins at the top of the piece with a quirky horn intro. Tina then comes in with the melody, which is the perfect vehicle for her expressive voice and clear diction—she really captures the gaiety of the lyric. The solo section starts with a thrilling piano solo by Ray Bryant, followed by an unusual trading-fours section between Tina and the rest of the band. After the solos, the story takes on new significance—now we've really heard just how powerful the samba can be!

Lyric Description: Tina's lyric describes how a timid lover is transformed by her rhythmic awakening. Before coming to Rio, she was naive and scared, but after hearing and dancing to the samba, she realizes it's finally her time for love.

No-vocal version: This version follows the format of Tina's recording—complete with horn backgrounds that don't get in the singer's way—until the solo section, during which the changes from the bridge are repeated three times. The solo section is left open so that the vocalist may practice improvisation with a solid rhythm section. The form moves to the out chorus immediately after solos (with no interlude as there is on the vocal lead sheet edition and on Tina's recorded version).

If another key would be better for you, send the key you'd like to Don and we'll post the transposition on the website for purchase. If you're not sure which key is best, send us your range and we'll work with you to figure out the best key.