João Donato – A Bad Donato

On this 1970 album recorded in Los Angeles, Donato departs from his Brazilian bossa nova roots, incorporating an eclectic, and electric, mix of funk, fusion and psychedelic pop. The result is a groovy Fender Rhodes driven set, highlighted by "The Frog" and "Lunar Tune."

Donato had been working professionally as a musician since the early 1950s, emigrating to the United States in 1959. His 1965 LP The New Sound of Brazil: Piano of João Donato was one of many albums that helped make bossa nova a household word in America. But after almost a decade of living abroad and playing with the likes of Chet Baker, Cal Tjader, and Astrud Gilberto, Donato was growing restless and in desperate need of new musical stimulation.

In 1970, he accepted an invite to tour Japan with fellow Brazilian musician Sérgio Mendes, replacing pianist Osmar Milito. It was during this trip that he captured the attention of Blue Thumb Records' Bob Krasnow: "Man, when we go back to America I want to do an album with you," Krasnow told Donato, giving him carte blanche to record whatever he wanted. The result was A Bad Donato.

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