International Archives For The Jazz Organ (IAJO) - The Jazz Organ Scene Brazil

João Donato

A professional at the age of 15, João played accordion at the Sinatra-Farney Fan Club. He recorded for the first time with Altamiro Carrilho. Soon after he joined a band led by violinist Fafá Lemos that played in Brazilian nightclubs. His first solo album came out in 1953. He led the bossa nova band Os Namorados.

João became arranger and pianist for the band Garotos da Lua and was joined by João Gilberto. After moving to São Paulo, he played in the Luís César Orchestra and the band Os Copacabanas. Donato wrote "Minha Saudade" with Gilberto, and it became a hit. In an interview during the 1970s, Gilberto said João inspired the creation of bossa nova.

Jobs at nightclubs decreased when customers said they couldn't dance to his music. Musicians, too, found the music difficult to learn. Unable to find work in his home country, he left Brazil after his friend Nanai, a former member of Os Namorados, offered him a job in the USA. During the next decade, he recorded with Mongo Santamaria, Tito Puente, Astrud Gilberto, Bud Shank, and Cal Tjader. His hits included "A Rã", and "Caranguejo", both recorded by Sergio Mendes. His album A Bad Donato (1970) was recorded with jazz bassist Ron Carter. He was music director for Gal Costa in 1974.

In 2010, Sambolero, credited to the João Donato Trio, earned the Latin Grammy for Best Latin Jazz Album at the 10th Latin Grammy Awards. In 2016, he was nominated for the Latin Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Album for his album Donato Elétrico. The album was also chosen by the Brazilian edition of Rolling Stone magazine as the 11th best Brazilian album of 2016. His album Sintetizamor was named by Rolling Stone Brasil one of the best of 2017.

from Wikipedia

The Prophet Verve Records V6-8769 released 1968 recorded January 1968 in New York City/USA	Cal Tjader, vibes Mike Abene, piano, harpsichord João Donato, organ Bobby Rodriguez, bass Chuck Rainey, bass Grady Tate, drums Ray Barretto, percussion Orestes Vilato, percussion
Jazz 'Round Midnight Verve Records 314 531 933-2 compilation	Cal Tjader, vibes Paul Horn, reeds Kenny Burrell, guitar Jimmy Raney, guitar João Donato, organ Clare Fischer, organ, piano Dick Hyman, organ Patti Bown, piano Robert Corwin, piano Paul Griffin, piano Lonnie Hewitt, piano Hank Jones, piano Bernie Leighton, piano Richard Davis, bass George Duvivier, bass John Hilliard, bass Al McKibbon, bass Red Mitchell, bass Freddie Schreiber, bass Sol Gubin, drums Johnny Rae, drums, timba Ed Shaughnessy, drums Grady Tate, drums Ed Thigpen, drums Willie Rodriguez, percussion Alberto Valdés, percussion Bill Fitch, congas Wilfredo Vincente, congas Armando Peraza, bongos, percussion Ardeen de Camp, vocals Anita O'Day, vocals
Fried Bananas Cherry Red ACMEM 45CD compilation, recorded 1968-1969	Cal Tjader, vibes Jerry Dodgion, reeds Walter Kane, reeds George Marge, reeds Jerome Richardson, reeds Garnett Brown, trombone George Berg, bassoon Joseph Grinaldo, bassoon Lew Del Gatto, oboe Ray Alonge, French horn James Helm, guitar Mike Abene, harpsichord, piano João Donato, organ Joe Kloess, piano Mike Melvoin, organ Al Zulaica, piano Gary McFarland, vibes Henri Aubert, violin Albert Wagner, violin Jim McCabe, bass Harvey Newmark, bass Chuck Rainey, bass Bobby Rodriguez, bass Paul Warburton, bass Mike Buono, drums Jim Keltner, drums Armando Peraza, congas Ray Barretto, percussion Johnny Rae, percussion Orestes Vilato, percussion

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