Legendary Brazilian jazz vocalist Flora Purim, who has rightfully been declared by many as the “The Queen of Brazilian Jazz”, giving the world all-time classic gems like “Open Your Eyes, You Can Fly”, “500 Miles High”, “Light As a Feather”, “Casa Forte”, “Moondreams”, “Angels”, “Samba Michel” and so many others (often collaborating with her husband and percussionist great Airto Moreira), has returned and released her first new full-length album in 15 years on London’s Strut label, titled If You Will.

This new nine-track release celebrates the past and the present, featuring a good mix of brand new tracks and fresh renditions of Flora’s personal favorites from across her storied career. The title track, “If You Will”, which is quite possibly the song of the year and features her daughter Diana Purim, reprises a collaboration she did with the late great George Duke. Other notable selections include “This Is Me”, which updates an Airto jam band tune “I Don’t Wanna Be Myself Again”, a new take on “500 Miles High” and “Zahuroo”, which was written by remarkable Bay Area-based Rio-born vocalist and songwriter Claudia Villela.

Recorded primarily in Curitiba and Sao Paulo, the session features a number of artists that Flora feels closest to, including Airto Moreira, guitarist José Neto, her daughter Diana Purim on vocals, and percussionist Celso Alberti.

Overall, the album is absolutely brilliant from start to finish, capturing the same magic that made all her previous releases for labels like Milestone and Warner Bros during the 70s and early 80s such essential classics. At the age of 80, Flora Purim continues to carve out new chapters in what has already been an astonishing music career.

Flora Purim — ‘If You Will’
(Strut)

1. If You Will (ft. Diana Purim)
2. This Is Me
3. 500 Miles High
4. A Flor Da Vida
5. Newspaper Girl
6. Dandara
7. Zahuroo
8. Dois + Dois = Tres
9. Lucidez

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• Brazilian
• Jazz Dance