Joao Donato's Comes To Cleveland
Wadsworth PR http://www.elsoldecleveland.com - 03.04.07
João Donato in an ultra rare US and club apperance Live at Nighttown on Wednesday, April 4th.
A Brazilian musician and composer of almost mythical proportions, João Donato is one of the surviving - and still prospering - members of a generation that produced Antonio Carlos Jobim, João Gilberto, Manfredo Fest, Luiz and many other masters associated with the heyday of bossa nova. The impish pianist, known for his deliberate, single-note musings and catchy compositions, is, along with Gilberto and Jobim, one of a small handful of artists whose sound defines bossa. In the United States in the 1960s, he worked with Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Cal Tjader, and Bud Shank, while at home in Rio in the '70s, he collaborated with Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Chico Buarque, and other younger writers. The three-volume Songbook, on the import label Lumiar, features 42 tunes performed by the pianist and a phalanx of Brazilian jazz talent backing such vocalists as Gil, Veloso, Daniela Mercury, João Bosco, Djavan, and Leila Pinheiro.
A true master of Brazilian music and one of the founders of the Bossa Nova, pianist Joao Donato is still in fine form at the age of 72. Donato's career commenced in Brazil in 1949 when he recorded the first of several 78 records. In 1956, he recorded his first LP with Antonio Carlos Jobim as his producer. He would go on to record several discs and collaborate on many compositions with his close associates Joao Gilberto and Antonio Carlos Jobim. Joao Donato's career parallels the development of the Bossa Nova and he is one of it most important contributors. Between 1959 and 1962, Donato moved to the US, and worked with several important artists including Cal Tjader, Tito Puente, and Mongo Santamaria. In 1963 he returned to Brazil and continued to collaborate with Joao Gilberto frequently. Soon thereafter he moved back to the US and recorded and performed with many important Brazilian and American artists including Jobim, Gilberto, Eumir Deodato, Astrid Gilberto, Bud Shank, Stan Kenton, Nelson Riddle, Herbie Mann, and Wes Montgomery. He also recorded several significant, yet hard to find LP's during that time. Since returning to Brazil in 1972, Joao Donato has only made periodic appearances in the States, sometimes with long periods in between. He has continued to be a major star in South America, and tours regularly in Europe, Japan, and event to further destinations like Russia where he recorded a CD recently. He continues to compose, lead his Trio, and has received all of the highest honors in his native Brazil including the medal of Culture in 2004, and in 2006 a brand new Arts and Communications center in his native Acre was named after him.
Joao Donato's appearance at Nighttown is especially significant as this is his first time appearing in North America since playing the Blue Note in New York City in the summer of 2000. He starts his US tour at Nighttown and he will have his All-Brazilian Trio with him. Don't miss one of the creators of the Bossa Nova, Joao Donato in an ultra rare US and club apperance Live at Nighttown on Wednesday, April 4th.
A Brazilian musician and composer of almost mythical proportions, João Donato is one of the surviving - and still prospering - members of a generation that produced Antonio Carlos Jobim, João Gilberto, Manfredo Fest, Luiz Eça and many other masters associated with the heyday of bossa nova. The impish pianist, known for his deliberate, single-note musings and catchy compositions, is, along with Gilberto and Jobim, one of a small handful of artists whose sound defines bossa. In the United States in the 1960s, he worked with Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Cal Tjader, and Bud Shank, while at home in Rio in the '70s, he collaborated with Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Chico Buarque, and other younger writers. The three-volume Songbook, on the import label Lumiar, features 42 tunes performed by the pianist and a phalanx of Brazilian jazz talent backing such vocalists as Gil, Veloso, Daniela Mercury, João Bosco, Djavan, and Leila Pinheiro.
A true master of Brazilian music and one of the founders of the Bossa Nova, pianist Joao Donato is still in fine form at the age of 72. Donato's career commenced in Brazil in 1949 when he recorded the first of several 78 records. In 1956, he recorded his first LP with Antonio Carlos Jobim as his producer. He would go on to record several discs and collaborate on many compositions with his close associates Joao Gilberto and Antonio Carlos Jobim. Joao Donato's career parallels the development of the Bossa Nova and he is one of it most important contributors.
Between 1959 and 1962, Donato moved to the US, and worked with several important artists including Cal Tjader, Tito Puente, and Mongo Santamaria. In 1963 he returned to Brazil and continued to collaborate with Joao Gilberto frequently. Soon thereafter he moved back to the US and recorded and performed with many important Brazilian and American artists including Jobim, Gilberto, Eumir Deodato, Astrid Gilberto, Bud Shank, Stan Kenton, Nelson Riddle, Herbie Mann, and Wes Montgomery. He also recorded several significant, yet hard to find LP's during that time. Since returning to Brazil in 1972, Joao Donato has only made periodic appearances in the States, sometimes with long periods in between. He has continued to be a major star in South America, and tours regularly in Europe, Japan, and event to further destinations like Russia where he recorded a CD recently. He continues to compose, lead his Trio, and has received all of the highest honors in his native Brazil including the medal of Culture in 2004, and in 2006 a brand new Arts and Communications center in his native Acre was named after him.
Joao Donato's appearance at Nighttown is especially significant as this is his first time appearing in North America since playing the Blue Note in New York City in the summer of 2000. He starts his US tour at Nighttown and he will have his All-Brazilian Trio with him. Don't miss one of the creators of the Bossa Nova, Joao Donato in an ultra rare US and club apperance Live at Nighttown on Wednesday, April 4th.
