Jazz Articles about João Donato

A Jazz Holiday In Rio

by Mark Holston
July 6, 2015

For most, mention a trip to Brazil and what comes automatically to mind is that vast tropical country's annual Carnaval celebration and the lure of its endless beaches. The high season, from December to early March, is when this nation of 200 million receives the most visitors by far. During Brazil's winter season, from roughly from mid-June into early September, when temperatures retreat from summer highs by as much as 30 degrees, foreign visitation becomes just a trickle compared to ...

Joao Donato: Amazonas

by Craig Jolley
February 1, 2001

A less-celebrated contemporary of Jobim and Gilberto, pianist/composer Joao Donato has enjoyed a more diverse career than his fellow bossa nova pioneers. As a versatile, accomplished pianist also at home in extroverted Cuban rhythms Donato has recorded and played with Mongo Santamaria, Bud Shank, Cal Tjader, and Michael Franks as well as with many of the major Brazilian singers.

Amazonas suggests itself as a career summary with some of Donato's best tunes presented in the back-to-basics context of a piano ...

Joao Donato: Joao Donato

by Douglas Payne
October 1, 1999

This odd cult item, originally released on Muse in 1973, is also known as Donato/Deodato -- a reference to then-hot arranger Eumir Deodato's participation and, probably, the similarity in their surnames. With the exception of the kick-off tune - the insanely catchy and wonderfully funky “Whistle Stop" -- it's a brief, strange trip that meanders aimlessly and rather too lifelessly.Even the disc's notes admit as much. The prolific Brazilian keyboardist and arranger, whose many records never make it ...