Originally released on the independent Manhattan-based label Montuno in 1989, Soul Jazz Records has recently reissued Airto Moreira’s rarely scene album Samba De Flora.

The percussionist is one of the most iconic native Brazilian artists to have migrated to the states during the early seventies. He helped establish two highly influential jazz fusion groups in Weather Report and Return to Forever. He has contributed to over a thousand recordings, and has notably collaborated with numerous American-based jazz legends and Brazilian greats, including Miles Davis, Cannonball Adderly, Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, Hubert Laws, Astrud Gilberto, Hermeto Pascoal, and Flora Purim, who he has been married to for about five decades.

On this late eighties release, Airto follows a similar musical blueprint that helped define his signature Brazilian fusion sound that was heard on many of his breakthrough recordings previously released on CTI Records during the seventies, fusing together Brazilian rooted percussion rhythms, electric jazz instrumentation, and funky grooves. Mostly notably, the album’s title track “Samba De Flora” is an absolute seminal jazz dance classic (also recently featured on Soul Jazz’s Brazil USA 70).

The record also features an incredible cast of backing musicians including Purim, Brazilian trombonist Raul de Souza, and electric bassist Alphonso Johnson, percussionist Don Alias (from Stone Alliance), Cuban conga player Cachete, and Argentinian pianist Jorge Dalto.

Overall, a very welcomed reissue of what could possibly be, Airto’s most obscure recording under his own name. Limited to just 1,000 copies, you are not going to want to sleep on this one!

Airto — ‘Samba De Flora’
(Originally released: 1989 / Montuno Records)
(Reissued: 2019 / Soul Jazz Records)

1. Parana
2. Samba De Flora
3. La Puerta
4. Dedos
5. Yanah Amina
6. El Fiasco
7. Mulambo
8. Latin Woman

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• Brazilian
• Jazz Funk
• Reissue