Lugar Comum
João Donato
1975
Why This Album Matters
Lugar Comum, released in 1975 by Philips, represents a crucial moment in João Donato's career, consolidating his vocal facet initiated on the previous album. The album stands out for continuing Donato's exploration of MPB, using many of his already recorded instrumental themes, now enriched with exquisite lyrics. This singular approach reflects the genius of an artist known for his creativity and inventive fusions of jazz with Latin and Caribbean rhythms, characteristics present throughout his work. The album is a true treasure trove of notable collaborations, with much of the repertoire featuring the poetry of great names in Brazilian music. The partnerships, especially the eight tracks composed with Gilberto Gil, yielded songs that became instant classics. Names such as Caetano Veloso, Gutemberg Guarabyra and Rubens Confete also contributed to the lyrical richness, establishing Lugar Comum as a landmark in Donato's discography and in Brazilian popular music. The title track and the song "Bananeira" are clear examples of how Donato's instrumental mastery, combined with inspired lyrics, transformed into timeless pieces of popular song.
Context
The album Lugar Comum emerged during a period of João Donato's re-engagement with the Brazilian music scene, after a long spell in the United States. Donato, who had become a prominent name in international jazz and Afro-Cuban music, returned to Brazil in the early 1970s, rediscovering an effervescent MPB scene. It was from a casual meeting at Christmas 1972, at Marcos Valle's home, with a suggestion from singer Agostinho dos Santos, that Donato felt compelled to put lyrics to his instrumental compositions, opening himself up to the universe of popular song. This change of direction was preceded by the acclaimed album Quem É Quem (1973), which already marked Donato's transition to the role of vocalist and lyricist. Lugar Comum, therefore, not only continues this new artistic phase but deepens it, highlighting the pianist's immersion in the poetic verve of MPB, while also approaching central figures of the Bahian movement, such as Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso, for whom he had even served as musical director for a Gal Costa show the previous year.
Recording
The lyrical conception of some of Lugar Comum's tracks had memorable moments, as recalled by Donato himself. On a summer day in the 1970s, at Caetano Veloso's home, surrounded by names such as Maria Bethânia, Gal Costa and Caetano himself, Donato challenged them to create lyrics for his instrumental melodies. It was in this relaxed context that the song "Bananeira" acquired its first verses. The creative dynamic was a true ping-pong of ideas. While Gilberto Gil improvised verses such as "bananeira não sei / bananeira sei lá", Donato complemented them with phrases like "quintal do seu olhar", shaping the song collectively. This collaborative and spontaneous process, which took place in informal settings among friends and great artists, is a testament to the creative effervescence that permeated the gestation of Lugar Comum, lending the album an aura of authenticity and shared inspiration.
Songs
The essence of Lugar Comum lies in its ability to transform instrumental themes into songs with striking lyrics. Most of the album's repertoire already existed as purely melodic compositions, which Donato skilfully reinvented with the contribution of great poets and composers of MPB. The eight collaborations with Gilberto Gil stand out, with songs such as "Tudo Tem", "A Bruxa de Mentira", "Deixei Recado", "Que Besteira", "Emoriô", in addition to the title track "Lugar Comum" and the iconic "Bananeira", which became absolute references in popular song. Other important collaborations include "Naturalmente" (with Caetano Veloso), "Ê Menina" (with Gutemberg Guarabyra) and "Xangô É de Baê" (with Rubens Confete). A curious fact about Donato's compositional process, and one that is reflected in Lugar Comum, is the tendency of his songs to change names over time. "Bananeira", for example, was originally called "Villa Grazia", the name of an inn in Italy where Donato was on tour with João Gilberto in the 1950s. According to the artist himself, ninety-nine per cent of his instrumental songs changed their titles upon receiving lyrics, a testament to his creative evolution and the fluidity between melody and word that defines this album.
Rankings
Tracks
Credits
Tobi
As Gatas
Gilberto Gil
João Donato
Rosinha de Valença
Genaldo Medeiros
Novelli
Aladim, Wilson das Neves
Frederiko
Celso Woltzenlogel, Copinha, Geraldo, Jorge Ferreira Da Silva
Alberto Das Neves, Luiz Carlos Batera
Netinho
Aurino Ferreira, Bijou
Antonio Guerreiro Bogado, Edmundo Maciel, Flamarion
Formiga
João Moreira, Luigi Hoffer, Luis Cláudio Coutinho
Joaquim Figueira
Paulo Sergio, Zé Guilherme
Aldo Luiz
Jorge Vianna, Rogério Duarte
Luiz Garrido
Podcasts
Ensaio de Mesa · Estúdio Elétrico
Está no ar o 8º episódio do Ensaio de Mesa. Essa semana, Álvaro Padilha e Rodrigo Vita conversaram sobre a obra prima do pianista João Donato, o disco "Lugar Comum" de 1975. Aperte o play e entre no papo.
Books
Analyses
ClyBlog: João Donato - "Lugar Comum" (1975)
cly-blog.blogspot.com
O resultado disso está no não coincidentemente intitulado "Lugar Comum", disco de Donato, que completa 50 anos de lançamento e que, embora creditado apenas a este, tem a essencial participação de Gil.
Joao Donato - Lugar Comum (1975) - PARALLEL REALITIES STUDIO
parallelrealitiesstudio.wordpress.com
Patumbalacundê (João Donato / Gilberto Gil / Durval Ferreira / Orlandivo) com Gilberto Gil 07. Xangô É de Baê (João Donato / Rubem Confete / Sidney da Conceição)
"Lugar Comum", um diálogo entre tradição e experimentação na MPB
cultura.uol.com.br
O "Dissonantes" desta sexta-feira (30/05) destaca o disco "Lugar Comum", lançado há 50 anos por João Donato. Com arranjos sofisticados e letras que exploram o cotidiano, o álbum marca uma virada na carreira de Donato, até então mais conhecido como instrumentista e arranjador.
Leila Pinheiro e Ricardo Bacelar revisitam João Donato em 'Lugar Comum'
correiobraziliense.com.br
Com estreia nas plataformas digitais marcada para 23 de agosto pela Jasmin Music, o single revela o conceito do álbum, que propõe novas versões acústicas para canções de João Donato ...
Lugar Comum - Inst. Joao Donato
institutojoaodonato.org
E que letras! Das 12 faixas, Gilberto Gil assina oito com João Donato, inclusive a faixa-título que até então, em versão instrumental, se chamava "Indio Perdido". Esta que foi a matriz de toda obra de João Donato, uma melodia que ele escutou ainda criança no assovio de um canoeiro no rio Acre.
Discogs
Lugar Comum – Discogs
discogs.com