Kassin’s João Donato Top 10

With legendary Brazilian musician João Donato soon to be making a rare appearance in London we wanted to find somebody who could shine a little light on the great man’s music. Kassin was the obvious choice. Not only is he an incredible musician, songwriter and producer – responsible for divine solo albums as well as collaborative work with Moreno Veloso, Domenico Lancelotti, Los Hermanos, Orquestra Imperial, Gilles Peterson’s Sonzeira project and his latest band, Grupo Cometa – but he is also a scholar of João Donato’s, having worked on a book about Donato’s momentous Quem É Quem album. Below, Kassin picks ten of his favourite Donato tracks, a trip through bossa, Latin jazz, tropicalia and samba that reveals the many shades of the great man. Here’s Kassin to introduce the piece:

I heard that João Donato is heading to London. Well, if you love music then go and you will see in front of you a man who helped shape bossa nova with Jobim and Gilberto, as well as a man who helped shape Latin jazz years later, playing trombone with Eddie Palmieri’s La Perfecta. Can you name any other artist who can be described as the inventor of two musical genres?

João Donato will be playing at London’s Barbican alongside Janis Siegel and Diego Figueiredo on Sunday 10th July. Full details at barbican.org.uk/music/event-detail.asp?ID=19699

Tracklisting:
Eddie Palmieri and his Conjunto “La Perfecta” – Tema La Perfecta
João Donato – Vamos Nessa
João Donato – A Rã
Cal Tjader – Souled Out
João Donato – Bananeira
João Donato – Emorio
Eumir Deodato and João Donato – Whistle Stop
Marku Ribas – Meu Samba Reguê
Gal Costa – Barato Total
João Donato – Lunar Tune

Listen to this:

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