伝説的なブラジル・ジャズ界の王と女王、アイアート・モレイラとフローラ・プリムは、60年以上も力強い諸作品とライヴ演奏で魅了続けた。フローラ・プリムが2022年に発表した『If You Will』はグラミー賞に立候補されたばかり!
この二人はサンバランソで出会い、意気投合。アイアートの打楽器の才能と、フローラのクラシック音楽の素養とアンダーグラウンドなボサノヴァ・テイストの絶妙な融合により、数世代を超えて共鳴。マイルス・デイビス、チック・コリアなどの音楽的なレジェンドとコラボレーションを果たしただけではなく、エルメート・パスコアールなどと共に先駆的な音楽をも手がけた。
1974年のフローラの逮捕と監禁も含む数々の困難に直面しつつ、セロニアス・モンクやキャノンボール・アダレイなどの友人/ ミュージシャンとの深い関係を持ちながら、音楽に対する辛抱強さと熱意により、成功。ウェイン・ショーター、ジャコ・パストリアス、ハービー・ハンコック、ジョー・ヘンダーソン、マッコイ・ターナー、ジョージ・デュークなどの有数のミュージシャンやオリン・キープニュースやグリード・テイラーなどのプロデューサーとも共演。ディジー・ガレスピー率いるユナイテッド・ネイションズ・アンサンブルなどを含む、多数の由緒あるアンサンブルの一員でありながら、アイアートとフローラの音楽人生は、彼ら自身の技能に対する自身が生み出した革新と情熱の証である。
本コレクションは、彼らのとてつもないジャーニーを堪能できる史上初のコンピレイションだ。Straight No Chaser 誌の編集長・出版者、ポール・ブラッドショーとTotally Wired Radio の司会者、ロバータ・クトロが監修。

発売・販売元 提供資料 （2023/09/22）

A multi-disc retrospective showcasing Brazilian percussionist /composer/producer Airto Moreira and vocalist Flora Purim was long overdue, as theyve profoundly influenced the world and jazz fusion scenes. They met in Rio in 1964 when Purim cut Flora e M.P.M. Purim then joined his Sambalanco and Sambrasa trios. After they married, Flora emigrated to New York in 1968 and began working immediately. He followed, working first with Cannonball Adderley, then Miles Davis, before the pair co-founded Return to Forever. He delivered 1970s, Natural Feelings and 1971s Seeds on the Ground, and Purim released Butterfly Dreams for Milestone. These recordings -- and most since -- feature both musicians. Here, 37 remastered tracks from 1965 to 1998, and either a 44 or 20-page booklet (depending on format) containing bios and stories from Paul Bradshaw alongside rare photos. "Jeito Bom de Sofrer" from 1965s Flora e M.P.M. showcases her innovative approach to jazzy samba. "Papa Furado (Jive Talking)" is a delirious acoustic jam from Seeds on the Ground with Moreiras vocals and followed by the acoustic "Andei" from Natural Feelings. The glorious Afro-Cuban and Brazilian polyrhythms in "Back Streets of Havana" showcase the 1992 underrated masterpiece, The Other Side of This. "Floras Song" from 1972s Free, is balanced by two excellent selections from Purims Stories To Tell in 74 -- the Latinized samba of "Vera Cruz," and the furious, propulsive "Casa Forte." Disc Two focuses on Purim, though Moreira plays a key role and is represented by two tracks. Highlights include her read of "Black Narcissus," the mysterious "Summer Night," and "Light as a Feather." "O Canto da Sereia" offers gloriously wrought modern Brazilian jazz, fueled by piano, fretless electric bass, and layers of drums and percussion as she sings into the azure above the arrangement. Disc Three flips the script for Moreira with two selections from Purim. The burning "Hot Sand" is drawn from 1974s Virgin Lands. "Parana" from 1973s Fingers, balances choro, Americana, and folk sounds with the funky fusion pouring through futuristic samba and jazz, while "Toque de Cuica" joins samba, electric jazz-funk, and pop. 1989s frenetic, syncopated "Samba de Flora" is drawn from an album bearing the same title. Moreiras "Happy People," was the title track on Adderleys 1972 Brazilian album. The composer recorded this vocal version for 1977s Im Fine How Are You? Purim delivers George Dukes swirling, funky "What Can I Say?" with passion and class. The pair meld klezmer, funk, jazz, and Hebrew ceremonial music in Milcho Levievs "Peasant Dance," and "Dom-Um Good Friend," with its improvised percussion-and-effects orgy, is a fitting tribute to late master drummer Dom Um Romao (with whom Purim lived when she met Moreira) using traditional instruments. The bounty of Airto & Flora 60 Years - Sounds, Dreams & Stories could only be improved by adding more discs with highlights from the last 23 years (there are many). As it is, it stands close to perfection. ~ Thom Jurek

Rovi