“BLACK ORPHEUS,” the English translation of a 1959 film set in Brazil, set the stage for the Bossa Nova movement that hit the world in the late '50s. The setting in Rio and the soundtrack, filled with compositions by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Luis Bonfa, created a sensation that still resonates with music lovers. Bonfa's theme from Black Orpheus, "Manhã de Carnaval," was at the center of this movement and its popularity has maintained, but it's important to note the different titles it might be presented as besides its original Portuguese name, including the regularly used, "Black Orpheus," or, particularly with vocalists, “A Day in the Life of a Fool,” which comes from its English lyric written by Carl Sigman. It can be performed as a slow bossa nova or a quicker samba, and as such gives an artist options for how to use it in their set. The simplicity of the melody, and the use of minor ii/V movement in the harmony make this an excellent vehicle for beginning improvisors. John Nastos’ “Mysterious Prophet” uses musical components borrowed from the original and introduces us to the use of repeated motifs, or patterns, in the melody. There is a lifetime of study that can be devoted to the playing of samba, and "Black Orpheus," the film and the tune, is a great place to start!