João Donato

A professional at the age of 15, Donato played accordion at the Sinatra-Farney Fan Club. He would later learn piano and trombone. Donato recorded for the first time with Altamiro Carrilho. Gal Costa's interpretation of "Simples Carinho" appears in the soap opera "Final Feliz". A little known fact is that João played trombone and recorded on the instrument with the bands of legendary Latin bandleaders: pianist Eddie Palmieri (La Perfecta c. 1962) and master timbalero Tito Puente and his big band (Bossa Nova by Tito Puente c. 1962, Vaya Puente c. 1962). 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 U.S. During the next decade, he recorded with Mongo Santamaria as a pianist, Tito Puente as a trombonist, Eddie Palmieri as a trombonist, Astrud Gilberto, Bud Shank, and Cal Tjader. His hits included "A Rã" and "Caranguejo", both recorded by Sergio Mendes and the aforementioned "Amazonas" which was also recorded by Tjader, and a new big band version by the Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big Band on the Vox Humana album featuring Janis Siegel on vocals (2023). His album A Bad Donato (1970) was recorded with jazz bassist Ron Carter. He was music director for Gal Costa in 1974. ==Death==

Donato died in Rio de Janeiro on 17 July 2023, at the age of 88. ==Awards and honors==

Alexandre Carvalho dos Santos wrote, "I recommend a João Donato gig not only to someone who is interested in first-class music, an impressive pianist and a selection of historic compositions. I recommend it to anyone who needs an anti-depressive, an acupuncture session or any other form of deep relaxation. I had my dose on a Sunday evening, from a show in São Paulo. Perfect timing to start a week believing that happiness exists, in spite of your boss". 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 the same year, he was one of the recipients of the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. 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. ==Discography==

As leader • A Bossa Muito Moderna De Donato E Seu Trio (Polydor, 1963) • The New Sound of Brazil (RCA Victor, 1965) • Sambou Sambou (Pacific Jazz, 1965) • A Bad Donato (Blue Thumb, 1970) • Quem e Quem (Odeon, 1973) • DonatoDeodato (Muse, 1973) • Lugar Comum (Philips, 1975) • Leilíadas (Elektra Musician, 1986) • Coisas tão simples (Odeon, 1995) • Café com Pão with Eloir de Moraes (Lumiar Discos, 1997) • Só Danço Samba (Lumiar Discos, 1999) • Remando Na Raia (Lumiar Discos, 2001) • Ê Lalá Lay-Ê (DeckDisc, 2001) • Managarroba (Deckdisc, 2002) • Wanda Sá Com João Donato (Deckdisc, 2003) • A Blue Donato (Whatmusic, 2005) • João Donato Reecontra Maria Tita (Lumiar Discos, 2006) • Dois Panos para Manga with Paulo Moura (Biscoito Fino, 2006) • Uma Tarde Com Bud Shank e João Donato (Biscoito Fino, 2007) • O Piano De João Donato (Deckdisc, 2007) • Donatural (Biscoito Fino, 2009) • Água with Paula Morelenbaum (Biscoito Fino, 2010) • Live Jazz in Rio Vol 1 - O Couro Ta Comendo! (Discobertas, 2014) • Donato Elétrico (Selo, 2016) • Sintetizamor (Polysom, 2017) • Raridades (Anos 70) (Discobertas, 2018) • Gozando Existência (Discobertas, 2018) As sideman With Vinicius Cantuária • Siga-Me (EMI, 1985) • Samba Carioca (Naïve, 2010) With Nana Caymmi • Renascer (1976) • Nana (1977) With Gal Costa • Cantar (Philips, 1974) • Gal Canta Caymmi (Philips, 1976) • Estratosférica (Sony, 2015) With Bebel Gilberto • Tanto Tempo (Ziriguiboom, 2000) • Bebel Gilberto (Ziriguiboom, 2004) With Joyce • Tudo Bonito (Epic, 2000) • Bossa Duets (Sony, 2003) • Aquarius (2009) With Marisa Monte • Memories, Chronicles, and Declarations of Love (Metro Blue, 2000) • Infinito Particular (EMI, 2006) With Mongo Santamaria • !Arriba! La Pachanga (Fantasy, 1961) • Mas Sabroso (Fantasy, 1961) • Viva Mongo! (Fantasy, 1962) • Mighty Mongo, (Fantasy, 1962) With Cal Tjader • The Prophet (Verve, 1968) • Solar Heat (Skye, 1968) • Sounds Out Burt Bacharach (Skye, 1969) With others • João Bosco, Linha e Passe (RCA Victor, 1979) • Celso Fonseca, Liebe Paradiso (Dubas, 2011) • Michael Franks, Sleeping Gypsy (Warner Bros., 1977) • Astrud Gilberto, The Astrud Gilberto Album (Verve, 1965) • João Gilberto, Chega De Saudade (2010) • Toninho Horta, Cape Horn (2007) • Marcelinho da Lua, Tranqüilo (Deckdisc, 2003) • Jorge Mautner, Bomba de Estrelas (Warner Bros., 1981) • Jards Macalé, Síntese do Lance, (Rocinante, 2021) • Sergio Mendes, ''Sergio Mendes' Favorite Things'' (Atlantic, 1968) • Miúcha & Tom Jobim, Miucha & Tom Jobim (RCA Victor, 1979) • Paula Morelenbaum, Telecoteco (Universal, 2008) • Milton Nascimento, Clube da Esquina 2 (EMI, 1978) • Lisa Ono, Minha Saudade (Nana 1995) • Eddie Palmieri, La Perfecta (Alegre, 1962) • Dom Um Romão, Dom Um Romão (Muse, 1974) • Emílio Santiago, Emílio Santiago (CID, 1975) • Moacir Santos, Ouro Negro (Universal, 2001) • Bud Shank, Bud Shank & His Brazilian Friends (Pacific Jazz, 1965) • Robertinho Silva, Bodas de Prata (CBS, 1989) • Raul de Souza, Bossa Eterna (Biscoito Fino, 2008) • Caetano Veloso, Qualquer Coisa (Philips, 1975) • Nara Leão, Os Meus Amigos São Um Barato (Philips, 1977) ==References==