Airto Moreira
Airto Moreira made an immediate impact on the American jazz scene by being the first Brazilian percussionist to be playing a lot of different instruments at the same time. He brought them all together with an avant-garde, progressive sensibility, and revolutionized the role of percussion, both in jazz and popular music. After him it was a wave, and he was at the forefront with his work with Miles, Weather Report, and Return to Forever.
Airto Moreira was born in 1941 in the small village of Itaiopolis - south Brasil, and was raised in Curitiba. Even before he could walk he would start shaking and banging on the floor every time the radio played a hot song. By the time he was six years old he had won many music contests by singing and playing percussion. The city gave him his own radio program every Saturday afternoon. At thirteen he became a professional musician, playing percussion, drums, and singing in local dance bands. He moved to Sao Paulo at the age of sixteen and performed regularly in nightclubs and television as a percussionist, drummer and singer.
In 1965 he met the singer Flora Purim in Rio de Janeiro. Flora moved to the USA in 1967 and Airto followed her shortly after. When in New York Airto began playing with musicians such as Reggie Workman, JJ Johnson, Cedar Walton and bassist Walter Booker. It was through Booker that Airto began playing with the greats - Cannonball Adderley, Lee Morgan, Paul Desmond and Joe Zawinul who recommended Airto to Miles Davis for a recording session in 1970 for the “Bitches Brew” sessions. He remained with Miles for two years, and appears on such releases as “Live/Evil,” “Live at the Fillmore,” “On the Corner,” “The Isle of Wight”, “Bitches Brew” and later releases including the “Fillmore Sessions”.
Following his stint with Miles, Airto was invited to form the original Weather Report with Wayne Shorter, Joe Zawinul, Miroslav Vitous and Alphonse Mouzon with whom he recorded “The Weather Report.” Soon after, he joined Chick Corea’s original Return to Forever group with Flora Purim, Joe Farrell and Stanley Clarke and they recorded the albums, “Return to Forever” and “Light as a Feather”
In 1974 Airto formed his first band in the U.S., “Fingers” with Flora Purim. Since then they have performed constantly all over the world and recorded their own album for major record companies in Europe and America. Airto remains one of popular music’s most in demand percussionists. His collection of instruments, along with his knack for playing the right sound at the right moment, has made him the first choice of many producers and bandleaders.
Read moreTags
Album Review
Extended Analysis
- Miles at the Fillmore - Miles Davis 1970: The Bootleg Series Vol. 3
- Miles Davis: Miles at the Fillmore - Miles Davis 1970: The Bootleg Series Vol. 3
- Miles at the Fillmore - Miles Davis 1970: The Bootleg Series Vol. 3
- Miles Davis: Miles at the Fillmore - Miles Davis 1970: The Bootleg Series Vol. 3
August 05, 2022
Jazz Musician of the Day: Airto Moreira
October 12, 2021
Djerassi Films Presents: Resurrection! Airto Moreira And Preservation...
September 30, 2021
Djerassi Films Presents 'Resurrection! Airto Moreira And Preservation...
August 05, 2021
Jazz Musician of the Day: Airto Moreira
February 12, 2021
Resurrection! Legendary Percussionist Airto Moreira & The Preservation...
August 05, 2020
Jazz Musician of the Day: Airto Moreira
August 05, 2019
Jazz Musician of the Day: Airto Moreira
August 05, 2018
Jazz Musician of the Day: Airto Moreira
August 05, 2017
Jazz Musician of the Day: Airto Moreira
August 05, 2016
Karl Latham
drumsDarryl Hall
bassMarcel P Blanchet
drumsJust East
band/orchestraRodrigo Simoes
guitar, electricPhotos
Album Discography
Colvin
From: TrustBy Airto Moreira