From the cover it appears this is one of those albums to be filed under "for dancers only," but
Chá Dançante is a delightful collection of breezy instrumentals. And as one of the earliest albums recorded by influential and talented Brazilian pianist
João Donato, it has quite a pedigree as well. With leads coming from clarinet most often, it's not an album for Brazilian fans only.
Donato's piano obviously plays a large role, as does accordion (which often doubles the lead instrument) and percussion. The instrumentation rarely rises above ten voices, making it a full-fledged small-group date. As befits a Latin dance LP from the '50s,
Esquivel is the closest comparison, especially on "Baiao." ~ John Bush