My father gave me many things: the love of a good story, the life-long lesson of perseverance, lessons in how to grill or carve a turkey, hopefully his wisdom, and a love of Bossa Nova.

Created in the late 1950s by a trio of Brazilian friends, the new art form took the samba and softened it. The melodies were sweet, the lyrics in Portuguese (and translated into English) bequiling. The Brazilians mostly used classical guitars when they played it. Soon thereafter, Americans like saxophonist Stan Getz joined in. Around the time I was born in 1964, their collaboration on -- "Girl From Ipanema" -- became the Bossa Nova standard.

Jack Moss loved this music. He had all the records and played them constantly. Without realizing it, I became hooked as well and Jack even pulled one of my best friends from high school, Matt, into his club.

Last night, I went to a small jazz club on the Iles St. Louis to hear the Ricardo Vilas Trio, a group of Brazlian musicians. The club, au Franc Pinot, wasn't packed. There was a group of rowdy Brazilian expats, some French and a few scattered Americans.

Vilas mostly played his own music, a vibrant, up-tempo Bossa Nova all sung in Portuguese. During his second set, he played a melody of the classics -- Desafinado, One Note Samba, and a couple of others whose sound I recognized but which I couldn't place. He toyed with me by playing a line from "Girl From Ipanema" before launching into his own Ipanema-based song.

I couldn't stop thinking of Jack, who died a bit more than a year ago. I could see him sitting next to me, tapping his foot, a broad smile on his face, his eyes partly closed as he let the music into his soul. I don't think I ever saw my dad happier than when he was listening to Bossa Nova. Across from me, a man occasionally clapped his hands as a percussive accompaniment, something I'd seen my dad do often when we would see live jazz.

I left the club thankful for a night of Bossa Nova and grateful for the guidance of the man who showed me the way.

Watch and listen to the following You Tube clips:

Astrud Gilberto and Stan Getz performing "Girl From Ipanema" in 1964

Joao Gilberto reunites with Tom Jobim to perform "Girl From Ipanema"

Tom Jobim sings "Desafinado"

Sergio Mendes & Brasil 88 perform "Aguas de Marco -- Waters of March"

A more traditional take on "Aquas de Marco" by Ellis Regina and Tom Jobim. Beautiful!

A young Jobim and Andy Williams on Williams' U.S. TV show

Jobim+Vinicius de Moraes+Toquinho+Miúcha perform two songs

"Corcovado" as performed by Paul Sonnenberg with a shaky video montage of Brazlian scenes