Yana Purim: Intimate Jazz, Deep Feelings And Raw Emotion

You're sitting in your happy chair at home, just mooching a magazine, when the phone rings. It's a good friend you haven't seen in a long time, and she would like to see you for old time's sake. She turns up and it's like the last few years never existed—you talk heart to heart about old times and things that matter, no idle chit-chat. Fact or fantasy?

Yana Purim is that old friend even though I've never met her. Her music, which I shall call "intimate jazz," communicates deep feelings based on raw emotion. As soon as the needle touches the groove or the laser scans the first pit, it's immediately apparent that she has something interesting to tell and has a way of making you want to sit back, listen, take it all in, and then smile. It is very "person-to-person contact" and in the context of much of the music produced today very different.

Of course this tells you nothing about who Yana is, her background, her influences, the musicians she has played with or even the style of her music. Born in Rio de Janeiro to a Brazilian mother and Romanian father, both Jewish, her house was never lacking sound or music! Brazilian musicians such as the late Antonio Carlos Jobim and Sergio Mendes found considerable success in the United States, as did Yana's sister Flora and husband Airto Moreira who moved to California with Yana following in 1977.

Yana began her musical career in Los Angeles working with the highly regarded French composer, arranger and conductor Michel Colombier. A-list musicians have always featured in her musical output—Joe Farrell, Alphonso Johnson, Michael Boddicker, her brother-in-law Airto Moreira, and many more. A hand-written letter of congratulations from Chick Corea adorns her wall—you don't get much better than that. Her greatest influence, musically and spiritually, was Herbie Hancock next door to whom she lived. She became best friends with him and his wife Gigi, frequently visiting their house, where Herbie had his home studio. There she would immerse herself in his great creativity that inspired her own.

She performed with Joe Farrell and Frank Rosolino and leading her own groups became a fixture at prime time weekends at some of the best LA jazz clubs of the late '70s such as Carmelo's, Donte's, and The Baked Potato. She also performed with Moacir Santos, the multi-instrumentalist and educator of famous Brazilian artists living in Los Angeles at that time such as Baden Powell, Bola Sete and Wilson das Neves. As a lyricist she wrote for the likes of Mal Waldron, Thad Jones, João Donato, and Joe Sample.

Her self-titled 1982 debut album for RCA, produced by Yana (as with all future titles), was initially recorded in Los Angeles with Dave Frishberg and completed back in Rio with João Donato, Azymuth's bassist Alex Malheiros and Pascoal Meirelles. In 1986 she released the beautiful For A Distant Love, and the following year Harvest Time, featuring Herbie Hancock, Alphonso Johnson, and Eumir Deodato. A more jazzy album, it was produced by Uruguayan composer and multi-instrumentalist Hugo Fattoruso (of the group Opa). It is sung mostly, but not exclusively, in Portuguese but even if this is not your language, the title track sung in English is outstanding and representative of what Yana's music is all about, regardless of the language. Bird of Brazil followed in 1989 with a distinct jazzy style. Once again, Hugo Fatturoso is on various keyboards and synthesizers, Byron Miller on bass, Patrice Rushen on electric piano, Pascoal Meirelles on drums and electronic drums, Airto Moreira on drums and percussion... you get the picture, or should I say sound. In many ways, this disc reminds me of the early 1970's style of latin jazz of which I have fond memories from my days at university. In 1994 Yana collaborated with guitarist Heraldo do Monte on Brasilyanas Volume 1, which demonstrates the passion and delicacy of Yana's voice to its most.

Following a permanent move to Paris in 2001, Yana quickly established a reputation as one of the top jazz divas with Randy Crawford and Dee Dee Bridgewater. 2023 brought Depois do Amôr (After Love) in collaboration with Algerian-born pianist Jean-Yves Candela, twice winner of the Trophées du Jazz de la Gaude. This album of ballads, some rewritten by Yana, reveals the great sensitivity of Yana's voice as mentioned above. Standout tracks are the opening title featuring Randy Crawford, and "Oblivion" composed by Argentinian tango composer and bandoneon player Astor Piazzolla who revolutionized traditional tango by incorporating elements of jazz into its music. I should also mention that if you are looking for a hi-fi demonstration disc, Depois do Amôr should be on your list (I use a Linn LP12 with Naim tri-amplification and Linn Isobarik loudspeakers, as well as other high end digital streaming equipment).

February 2024 saw the release of her latest album Te Amo Demais. In Portuguese phrases can take on several meanings, so when translated this can mean "I love you too much," "I love you so much," or even "I love you very much"—whichever, the love certainly comes through in the familiar ballads "How Deep Is The Ocean," "Unforgettable," and "Summertime."

With such a diversity of styles, it is a little difficult to place Yana Purim in a single category. But if you want to spend a few hours with a glass of wine and easy conversation with an old friend, let her in when she knocks on your door and simply enjoy the evening.

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