Record Reviews
4 Reviews Found. Use search to find more reviews or follow the links in the review text.
  | AIRTO MOREIRA & FLORA PURIM ~ LIVE AT JAZZFEST BREMEN 1988
MOOSICUS 1314 (Barcode: 885513131423) ~ BRAZIL ~ Jazz-World Fusion
Recorded: 1988 Released: 2021
This is an archival album by Brazilian drummer / composer / bandleader Airto MoreiraFind albums by this artist and his wife, singer / songwriter Flora PurimFind albums by this artist, recorded live with their quintet, which also included keyboardist Marcos SilvaFind albums by this artist, American saxophonist Gary MeekFind albums by this artist and bassist Robert HarrisonFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten tracks, eight of which are original compositions / songs by the quintet members and two are Brazilian standards.
Airto and Flora (separately and together) were for many years the most important representatives of Brazilian music outside of their native country and contributed immensely to the creation of the Brazilian-flavored Jazz-World Fusion, recording dozens of dazzling albums in that genre, with many of the world’s best Jazz musicians.
Airto is a brilliant drummer and percussionist and Flora is a breathtaking singer and both have been among my favorite musicians since many decades. I have had the pleasure to meet them many times of course. Therefore, any archival material released with their music is always a great joy.
This live recording catches them with an exceptionally tight quintet, which plays like clockwork, and enables everybody to show their best. Flora’s vocals are brilliant as always and the band offers great saxophone and keyboards parts and a brilliant rhythm section work, including a lengthy showcase of Airto’s solo performance.
Overall, this is a wonderful time capsule, which preserves the spirit of Brazilian Jazz-World Fusion at its best, and as such is absolutely worth being released now, despite the fact then the sound quality is somewhat muddy at times. A superb reminder of the great talent of this Royal Jazz Couple.
| | Updated: 20/03/2022Posted: 20/03/2022 | CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | FLORA PURIM ~ PERPETUAL EMOTION
NARADA 724385062520 (Barcode: 724385062520) ~ BRAZIL ~ Jazz-World Fusion
Recorded: 2000 Released: 2001
This is a wonderful album by Brazilian vocalist Flora PurimFind albums by this artist, recorded with excellent musicians: American saxophonist Gary MeekFind albums by this artist, fabulous French pianist Christian JacobFind albums by this artist, American bassist Trey HenryFind albums by this artist and her husband drummer, percussionist Airto MoreiraFind albums by this artist. Brazilian guitarist Oscar Castro-NevesFind albums by this artist guests on selected tracks. The album presents eleven tracks, a mixture of original songs by Purim, Airto and Meek, some Brazilian songs, two Jazz compositions by Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist and McCoy TynerFind albums by this artist and one standard.
The music is the usual mixture of Jazz and Brazilian spicing, which is an irresistible, intoxicating magic for every true Jazz lover. This album is closer to Jazz than most other albums Purim recorded earlier, which although excellent, were somewhat more Pop oriented. I personally fell in love with Flora’s singing since the day I heard her sing with Chick Corea in 1972.
She is accompanied by a great team of musicians, who swing beautifully, providing the ideal accompaniment to Purim’s warm, sensual voice. In many respects this is probably the purest Jazz recording in her discography and features some of her best original material.
Overall, this is a marvelous vocal Jazz album by one of my most loved singers, who never recorded a bad album in her life. Her recorded legacy offers many fabulous albums, all of which are definitely worth visiting, and she is one of the most important Jazz-World Fusion innovators.
| | Updated: 21/08/2023Posted: 21/08/2023 | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | PAWEL ROSAK ~ WHO KNOWS
MJM 5273 (Barcode: 5908243452738) ~ POLAND ~ Smooth Jazz
Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016
This is an album by Polish (resident in Spain) singer / songwriter / multi-instrumentalist Pawel RosakFind albums by this artist, recorded with a stellar lineup of support musicians, including Polish vocal diva Anna Maria JopekFind albums by this artist and bassist Robert KubiszynFind albums by this artist, American saxophonist Gary MeekFind albums by this artist, Brazilian guitarist Oscar Castro NevesFind albums by this artist, British (Scottish) guitarist Hugh BurnsFind albums by this artist, Cuban (resident in US) trumpeter / percussionist Lulo PerezFind albums by this artist and many others. The album presents eight original songs (one repeated twice), all written (in English) and composed by Rosak. The album was recorded in studios in Spain, US, UK and Poland and has a wonderfully warm and crystal clear sound quality.
The music has a distinctive Latin / Brazilian feel, with Bossa Nova in the helm. The exquisite melodies are all carefully woven and sound so authentic that nobody would ever be able to guess they were created by a Polish artist, a fact which again proves that music knows absolutely no borders. Although the music is very accessible, it is elegant, intelligent and creative and keeps a highly aesthetic level. The instrumental arrangements are all perfectly suiting the music, emphasizing both the melodic character and the rhythmic vitality.
The musicianship is obviously stellar, as can be guessed from the list of participants, but there is no unnecessary showing off by individual musicians, but rather a well balanced group effort to build up the best possible sonic backing to Rosak´s vocals. There are numerous short solos spread all over the album´s tracks of course, which are all little gems, but they don´t try to steal the show.
Rosak has a very unique voice, which he uses wisely and effectively. The softness of his voice and his power of expression, both when singing lyrics or vocalizing, is very convincing and captivating and is perfectly suited to the music he creates. Moving between seductive almost whisper to fully evocative singing is one of his many talents.
Overall this is a beautiful and highly rewarding album, which offers Bossa Nova and Cuban influenced music, with Jazz arrangements, superbly crafted musically and wonderfully executed by its author and a stellar team. Highly recommended to listeners with a romantic heart that beats a Bossa Nova rhythm. Satisfaction guaranteed.
Side Note: Pawel´s and mine paths crossed many years ago in London via a mutual friend, the wonderful saxophonist Chris FrancisFind albums by this artist. We lost contact completely but recently renewed it, again with a little help from Chris, which led Pawel to send me his new album. Friendship is a wonderful power!
| | Updated: 30/01/2018Posted: 30/01/2018 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
|
