Good morning, and happy Labor Day!

I will keep my thoughts today brief because I am also trying to adhere to the intent of today’s holiday by not “laboring,” and I hope you are too!

Music has many purposes, but one purpose that I use frequently is music’s ability to enhance a desired mood, specifically to calm one’s anxiety or relax. We all have such busy lives and it’s hard sometimes to unwind and separate from the many thoughts and responsibilities we must deal with on a daily basis.

A type of music I frequently listen to while relaxing is bossa nova, a type of jazz that originated in Brazil in the late 1950’s and gained prominence due to some high-profile collaborations with American artists in the 1960’s. While some styles like bebop or salsa would be considered “hot” because of their fast rhythms and high energy, bossa nova is “cool” with a calm, reserved groove, and beautiful melodies. Here is Frank Sinatra collaborating with one of the pioneers of bossa nova, Antonio Carlos Jobim.