I discovered the work of Flora Purim and Airto Moreira when I was very young and have followed their careers with admiration ever since. I was introduced to them by Jom Tob Azulay, who invited me to join a documentary about the two as co-producer and musical director. After we began working on the film, I spoke with Flora about the idea of making an album—one featuring her and Airto—that would complement the film.
—Ricardo Bacelar
Two of the most internationally acclaimed Brazilian artists, regarded as references by generations of musicians and jazz lovers, Flora Purim and Airto Moreira, have returned to the studio at the invitation of musician and producer Ricardo Bacelar. The singer and percussionist immersed themselves in a creative and musical retreat at Jasmin Music studio in Fortaleza, Brazil. The first result of this encounter is the single “Aqui, Oh!”, a collaboration between Toninho Horta and Fernando Brant, which will be released on streaming platforms on August 29, 2025.
The single and the upcoming album by Flora Purim and Airto Moreira—scheduled for 2026—are produced by Ricardo Bacelar, alongside a documentary directed by the award-winning filmmaker Jom Tob Azulay, which captures behind-the-scenes footage of the recordings. Bacelar met the couple through the filmmaker.
“I discovered the work of Flora Purim and Airto Moreira when I was very young and have followed their careers with admiration ever since. I was introduced to them by Jom Tob Azulay, who invited me to join a documentary about the two as co-producer and musical director. After we began working on the film, I spoke with Flora about the idea of making an album—one featuring her and Airto—that would complement the film,” says Bacelar.
Prior to this project, Flora had released “If You Will”, her first album in 15 years, recorded during the pandemic. On the single “Aqui, Oh!”, Flora shares vocals with Ricardo Bacelar, while Airto contributes various percussion parts and vocals. “I presented the song to Flora, she really liked it, and we had the idea to record it together. Airto recorded vocals and percussion,” says Ricardo. “Flora and Airto remain as experimental as ever, always seeking the new and avoiding the obvious. And they do this with an impressive sense of Brazilian identity. Their performance is striking, full of maturity, inventiveness, and musical delicacy,” he adds. The recording will later be included as a bonus track on the upcoming Flora and Airto album.
The entire recording process was captured for a full-length documentary film, directed by Jom Tob Azulay with cinematography by Luís Abramo. “This is the second documentary I’ve made at Jasmin Studio. My goal is to increasingly invest in music documentaries with strong artistic and historical relevance,” Bacelar concludes.
The single “Aqui, Oh!” is being released simultaneously in Brazil, the United States, Japan, and Portugal. In addition to the Flora Purim album, Ricardo Bacelar also recorded a duo album with Airto, featuring original, unreleased compositions by both projects, produced by Jasmin Music. A multi-instrumentalist, singer, and arranger, Ricardo Bacelar has been developing a rich catalog of singles and albums through his label and Jasmin Studio, collaborating with artists such as Flávio Venturini, Leila Pinheiro, Toninho Horta, Roberto Menescal, Fagner, Jaques Morelenbaum, Ednardo, Amelinha, Delia Fischer, and Gilberto Gil, always championing quality Brazilian music.
Together, Flora and Airto share nearly six decades of musical and romantic partnership, five of those based in the United States, where they built solid careers. Flora moved to the U.S. in 1967 and married Airto five years later. American critics named her the best jazz singer in the U.S. for four consecutive years (1974–1977). In the 1970s, she recorded with jazz giants like Stan Getz, Gil Evans, Dizzy Gillespie, and Miles Davis. Alongside Airto, she was part of the renowned jazz fusion group Return to Forever, with Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke.
Airto Moreira is one of Brazil’s greatest musicians and is considered by many to be the father of contemporary percussion. In 1962, he was a member of Sambalanço and the legendary Quarteto Novo with Hermeto Pascoal, before moving to the U.S. later that decade. There, he joined Miles Davis’s band and recorded on landmark albums such as Bitches Brew, Bitches Brew Live – The Isle of Wight, On the Corner, and Live-Evil. He was also part of the Weather Report.
Airto has recorded with some of the most important names in jazz history, including Wayne Shorter, Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette, Chick Corea, John McLaughlin, Keith Jarrett, Santana, Joe Zawinul, Jaco Pastorius, Al Di Meola, Stan Getz, and others—cementing his place on the global music stage.
After decades of living in Los Angeles and traveling the world, Flora and Airto have returned to Brazil and currently reside in Rio de Janeiro.
The single and the upcoming album by Flora Purim and Airto Moreira—scheduled for 2026—are produced by Ricardo Bacelar, alongside a documentary directed by the award-winning filmmaker Jom Tob Azulay, which captures behind-the-scenes footage of the recordings. Bacelar met the couple through the filmmaker.
“I discovered the work of Flora Purim and Airto Moreira when I was very young and have followed their careers with admiration ever since. I was introduced to them by Jom Tob Azulay, who invited me to join a documentary about the two as co-producer and musical director. After we began working on the film, I spoke with Flora about the idea of making an album—one featuring her and Airto—that would complement the film,” says Bacelar.
Prior to this project, Flora had released “If You Will”, her first album in 15 years, recorded during the pandemic. On the single “Aqui, Oh!”, Flora shares vocals with Ricardo Bacelar, while Airto contributes various percussion parts and vocals. “I presented the song to Flora, she really liked it, and we had the idea to record it together. Airto recorded vocals and percussion,” says Ricardo. “Flora and Airto remain as experimental as ever, always seeking the new and avoiding the obvious. And they do this with an impressive sense of Brazilian identity. Their performance is striking, full of maturity, inventiveness, and musical delicacy,” he adds. The recording will later be included as a bonus track on the upcoming Flora and Airto album.
The entire recording process was captured for a full-length documentary film, directed by Jom Tob Azulay with cinematography by Luís Abramo. “This is the second documentary I’ve made at Jasmin Studio. My goal is to increasingly invest in music documentaries with strong artistic and historical relevance,” Bacelar concludes.
The single “Aqui, Oh!” is being released simultaneously in Brazil, the United States, Japan, and Portugal. In addition to the Flora Purim album, Ricardo Bacelar also recorded a duo album with Airto, featuring original, unreleased compositions by both projects, produced by Jasmin Music. A multi-instrumentalist, singer, and arranger, Ricardo Bacelar has been developing a rich catalog of singles and albums through his label and Jasmin Studio, collaborating with artists such as Flávio Venturini, Leila Pinheiro, Toninho Horta, Roberto Menescal, Fagner, Jaques Morelenbaum, Ednardo, Amelinha, Delia Fischer, and Gilberto Gil, always championing quality Brazilian music.
Together, Flora and Airto share nearly six decades of musical and romantic partnership, five of those based in the United States, where they built solid careers. Flora moved to the U.S. in 1967 and married Airto five years later. American critics named her the best jazz singer in the U.S. for four consecutive years (1974–1977). In the 1970s, she recorded with jazz giants like Stan Getz, Gil Evans, Dizzy Gillespie, and Miles Davis. Alongside Airto, she was part of the renowned jazz fusion group Return to Forever, with Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke.
Airto Moreira is one of Brazil’s greatest musicians and is considered by many to be the father of contemporary percussion. In 1962, he was a member of Sambalanço and the legendary Quarteto Novo with Hermeto Pascoal, before moving to the U.S. later that decade. There, he joined Miles Davis’s band and recorded on landmark albums such as Bitches Brew, Bitches Brew Live – The Isle of Wight, On the Corner, and Live-Evil. He was also part of the Weather Report.
Airto has recorded with some of the most important names in jazz history, including Wayne Shorter, Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette, Chick Corea, John McLaughlin, Keith Jarrett, Santana, Joe Zawinul, Jaco Pastorius, Al Di Meola, Stan Getz, and others—cementing his place on the global music stage.
After decades of living in Los Angeles and traveling the world, Flora and Airto have returned to Brazil and currently reside in Rio de Janeiro.
For more information contact ARE Group.
