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Bossa Antigua is an album recorded by American jazz saxophonist Paul Desmond featuring performances recorded in 1964 which were released on the RCA Victor label. The album title is a kind of pun: Bossa Antigua (“old thing”) in contrast to the popular musical genre Bossa Nova (“the new thing”). However Antigua is a proper pronoun, naming the island that is paired with Bermuda. The word for ‘old’ is ‘antigo’ in Portuguese, a cognate maybe of Antigua.

“Bossa Antigua picks up the samba-based rim shots of drummer Connie Kay on Take Ten and tries to make a whole new record out of them. While the title track duplicates the original percolating groove of “El Prince,” other tracks like “Samba Cantina” revert to a typical bossa nova rhythm of the period, which leads one to conclude that “bossa antigua” is merely whatever Desmond says it is. Of the album’s two non-originals, “The Night Has a Thousand Eyes,” of course, is made-to-order for Desmond’s wistful, sophisticated temperament, and he delivers exactly what a Desmond devotee would expect and love; and “A Ship Without a Sail” has some memorable off-the-cuff solo ideas. Jim Hall is around again to lend subtle rhythm support and low-key savvy in his solos, and like many Desmond companions of this period, he makes a fine sparring partner in the contrapuntal exchanges. The Brubeck Quartet’s Gene Wright again lends a sturdy hand on bass. The playing is wonderful throughout, though just missing the full-throttle inspiration of Take Ten.” – Richard S. Ginell/AllMusic.

Track listing:
All compositions by Paul Desmond except where noted.

“Bossa Antigua” – 4:43
“The Night Has a Thousand Eyes” (Jerry Brainin, Buddy Bernier) – 5:04
“O Gato” (Jane Herbert) – 4:33
“Samba Cantina” – 5:38
“Curacao Doloroso” – 4:30
“A Ship Without a Sail” (Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart) – 6:18
“Alianca” – 4:29
“The Girl from East 9th Street” – 6:13
“The Night Has a Thousand Eyes” [alternate take] (Brainin, Bernier) – 7:18 Bonus track on CD reissue
“Samba Cepeda” – 5:06 Bonus track on CD reissue
“O Gato” [alternate take] – 4:53 Bonus track on CD reissue

Recorded Webster Hall on June 13, 1964 (track 8) at RCA Studio A in New York City on July 28, 1964 (tracks 1, 4 & 10), July 29, 1964 (tracks 2, 6 & 9), August 20, 1964 (tracks 3, 5 & 11), and September 8, 1964 (track 7).

Personnel:
Paul Desmond – alto saxophone
Jim Hall – guitar
Gene Cherico (track 8), Eugene Wright (tracks 1-7 & 9-11) – bass
Connie Kay – drums

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Released: 1965
Recorded: July 28 & 29, 1964, August 20, 1964 and September 8, 1964
RCA Studio A, New York City
Length: 58:45
Label: RCA Victor LPM 3320
Producer: George Avakian