That Bad Donato: The L.A. Brazil Connection
CAP UCLA | 8 p.m., Royce Hall
In 1970, legendary Brazilian pianist, producer, and arranger João Donato was working temporarily in Los Angeles and recorded A Bad Donato, an album that would become a classic of Brazilian instrumental jazz-funk music. Alongside Brazilian musicians like Eumir Deodato and Dom Um Romao, the album also featured U.S. jazz great Bud Shank. Donato was one of many top Brazilian artists–Tom Jobim, Elis Regina, Airto Moreira, Flora Purim, Moacir Santos, Sergio Mendes, Paulinho da Costa, among others–who treated Los Angeles like a Brazilian musical suburb, recording their albums here, playing at clubs across the local Latin and jazz music scenes and collaborating with local bands and solo artists as session players and guest composers. The album was one of many culminations of the influence of bossa, samba, and other Afro-Brazilian styles on the global circulation of Brazilian music through Hollywood films and L.A. record labels.
After his California sojourn, Donato went back to Brazil to produce and arrange hit recordings for the likes of Gilberto Gil, Gal Costa, and Caetano Veloso. This extraordinary evening at Royce Hall features performances by João Donato backed by Bixiga 70, and Bahia-raised Mateus Aleluia with L.A.-based Brazilian singer Thalma de Freitas, highlighting the importance of Brazil’s influence on the music of L.A., as well as the impact of L.A. on Brazilian music.
Event Date: Saturday, Dec. 2, 8 p.m.
Venue: Royce Hall
Price: $29–59, $15 UCLA Students, $25 UCLA Faculty & Staff
Royce Hall is located in North Campus off of Sunset Boulevard.
Parking is available in lots 2 & 4.