Joao Donato: Jazz Is Dead 7 (Adrian Younge, Ali Shaheed Muhammad) Vinyl LP

"Where’s João Donato? It’s a frequently asked question, referring simultaneously to the physical location and the musical moment he inhabits. João Donato deserves a place among the legends of Brazilian music, alongside Antonio Carlos Jobim, João Gilberto, Dorival Caymmi, Ary Barroso, and select few others, yet his erratic career and experimentation with different music genres make him a challenge to classify. A sampling of some of his more descriptive song titles suggests Donato’s comfort with musical hybrids: 'Bluchanga,' 'Sambolero,' and 'Sambongo,' to name just a few. Lacking a name for his style of music, Donato’s is a distinct sound, immediately recognizable from the first few bars of any of his compositions. He was funky back when 'funk' was a bad word (listen to either of his 1960s Brazilian LPs for proof). His compositions are deceptively simple, while his arrangements are harmonically complex, resulting in songs that are seemingly childlike, yet reveal their intricate details upon repeat listening. Produced by Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge and recorded in the Linear Labs analog studio." - Jazz Is Dead

• 2021 studio session w/ Brazilian jazz / bossa nova legend João Donato
• 7th volume of Adrian Younge + Ali Shaheed Muhammad's Jazz Is Dead series of collaborations w/ Roy Ayers, Marcos Valle, Doug Carn + more
• black vinyl pressing
• housed in die-cut jacket w/ printed inner sleeve
• music label: Jazz Is Dead 2021

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