Other than a couplet of obscure efforts for Buddah inward 1970, this was percussionist Airto's debut equally a leader, as well as this is all the same his most famous record. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 brass department arranged yesteryear Don Sebesky is heard on 2 tracks, as well as such all-stars equally keyboardist Chick Corea, flutist Hubert Laws, the reeds of Joe Farrell, as well as fifty-fifty pianist Keith Jarrett as well as guitarist George Benson brand worthwhile appearances. Flora Purim joins Airto inward the 1 song slice ("Free"), as well as "Return to Forever" receives an early on recording. The music combines together jazz, Brazilian music, as well as aspects of fusion as well as funk quite successfully.
Airto Moreira's kickoff album for Creed Taylor's nascent jazz-fusion label CTI contributed magnificently to Taylor's modus operandi--expanding the boundaries of jazz to include elements of indigenous cultures, rock, as well as fifty-fifty classical modes. FREE is Airto inward full, unencumbered flight.
His version of Chick Corea's ain genre-defining classic "Return to Forever" sets the listener adrift inward a choppy body of body of water of song atmospheres, crests of electrical piano, as well as Airto's simmering cry lines of percussion. The championship rails conjures the Brazilian rainforest alongside a thick underbrush of rhythm, tribal howls, as well as chatter. Airto as well as his cohorts play a wonderful array of ceremonial woodblocks, wood flutes, as well as other natural Brazilian noisemakers. Accompanying the percussionist are such stellar figures equally Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett, Stanley Clarke, Ron Carter, as well as George Benson.
I require maintain a lot of Airto's stuff, especially the CTI as well as Arista recordings, but I never owned this one. Originally I idea "How dissimilar could this 1 hold upwards from the rest?", but 1 listening proved I was false inward that notion. Airto brings an all-star cast that includes his associates inward the original Return to Forever (the album for ECM had precisely been recorded as well as hence this was captured at an amazing catamenia for Airto's development) Chick Corea as well as the amazing Joe Farrell, equally good equally Keith Jarrett (a rare invitee appearance for him) as well as the CTI stable of Ron "The Rock" Carter on bass, George Benson on guitar, Hubert Laws on flute as well as others. Airto plays ALL PERCUSSION heard, including drum kit -- something exclusively rarely heard similar on the original RTF ECM recording but something nosotros should hear to a greater extent than of-- I saw Airto play criterion kit inward the 90s as well as his experience is amazing, especially on the Brazilian-infused selections, of class (as a jazz drummer myself, I know a picayune chip well-nigh such things). There is lots of tasty flute on these cuts, giving an airy, low-cal experience to the music. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 bully choice of cloth equally well, ameliorate than the other CTIs of Airto because it actually has an ensemble experience as well as the Sebesky arrangements lend a beautiful experience to the whole thing-- I hear a lot of the same approach on Jobim's masterwork from the same catamenia "Stone Flower"... so, killer musicians + bully tunes= 1 hell of an outing for the pioneering percussionist as well as grand primary of all things struck alongside a stick. Salud Airto!
Here is a jem of an album. Airto Moreira, or Airto, equally he was known inward the early on days, was a fusion pioneer who participated inward the most of import projects, has recorded precisely about superb albums nether his ain name. When you lot intend Miles, Weather Report, Chick Corea - intend Airto. This album is 1 of his really best, for its subtlety, depth of feeling as well as lush arrangements alongside flute, piano, guitar, electrical piano, lots of percussion, voices equally well. You larn a superb rendition of Return To Forever, gorgeous Flora's Song, the wild, almost fell Free, the residual of the album precisely about pretty elegant as well as hip Brazilian fusion alongside a variery of rythms. Dreamy, exotic music.
Track listing
"Return to Forever" (Chick Corea) - 10:17
"Flora's Song" (Flora Purim) - 8:30
"Free" (Airto Moreira) - 11:50
"Lucky Southern" (Keith Jarrett) - 2:36
"Creek (Arroio)" (Victor Brazil) - 6:12
"So Tender" (Jarrett) - 5:01
"Jequié" (Moacir Santos) - 2:57
"Creek" (Arroio) (Altenate Version) - 9:23
Recorded at Van Gelder Studio inward Englewood Cliffs, New Bailiwick of Jersey on March 23 as well as Apr 12, thirteen & 20, 1972
Personnel
Airto - percussion, vocals
Hubert Laws - flute
Joe Farrell - soprano saxophone, flute alto flute, bass flute, piccolo
Chick Corea - piano, electrical piano
Keith Jarrett - piano
Nelson Ayres - electrical piano
George Benson - guitar
Jay Berliner - guitar
Ron Carter - bass
Stanley Clarke - electrical bass
Flora Purim - vocals
Burt Collins, Mel Davis, Alan Rubin - trumpet, flugelhorn
Wayne Andre, Garnett Brown, Joe Wallace - trombone
Don Sebesky - arranger
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