Muito À Vontade - João Donato

Pianist João Donato brought an Afro-Cuban sense of swing to bossa nova, and this 1962 trio album shows it at close range. The detail is the space: Donato plays short, offbeat phrases and leaves gaps for the drums and bass to fill, so the groove comes from what he leaves out. Sambou, Sambou is the track to start with. Choose it if you like small-group jazz piano.