- published: 24 Apr 2015
- views: 16123
Airto Moreira (born August 5, 1941) is a Brazilian jazz drummer and percussionist. Airto is married to jazz singer Flora Purim, and their daughter Diana Moreira is also a singer. He currently resides in Los Angeles.
Airto Moreira was born in Itaiópolis, Brazil, into a family of folk healers, and raised in Curitiba and São Paulo. Showing an extraordinary talent for music at a young age, he became a professional musician at age 13, noticed first as a member of the samba jazz pioneers Sambalanço Trio and for his landmark recording was Quarteto Novo with Hermeto Pascoal in 1967. Shortly after, he followed his wife Flora Purim to the United States.
After moving to the USA, Airto began playing regularly with jazz musicians in New York, including the bassist Walter Booker. Through Booker, Airto began playing with Joe Zawinul, who in turn introduced him to Miles Davis. At this time Miles was experimenting with electronic instruments and rock and funk rhythms, a form which would soon come to be called jazz fusion. Airto was to participate in several of the most important projects of this emerging musical form. Airto stayed with Miles for about two years, touring and participating in the creation of the seminal fusion recording Bitches Brew. Shortly after leaving Miles, Airto joined other Miles alumni Joe Zawinul, Wayne Shorter and Miroslav Vitous in their group Weather Report, playing percussion on their first album, Weather Report. He left Weather Report (replaced by Dom Um Romão and Muruga Booker for their Sweetnighter album) to join fellow Miles alumnus Chick Corea's new band Return to Forever. He played drums on Return to Forever's first two albums, their Return to Forever and Light as a Feather. These albums are regarded today as classics of the fusion genre.
Airto Moreira - Rhythms and Colors (drum instructional video)
Airto Moreira - Seeds On the Ground - 1971 (Full Album Completo)
Airto Moreira - Natural Feelings (1970) [Full Album / Completo] [HD]
Airto Moreira - Free (1973)
Flora Purim and Airto Moreira Live
Airto Moreira (part 1)
Airto Moreira - Trilok Gurtu - Lisbeth Diers: MAGIC OF DRUMS
Airto Moreira-Samba de Flora
Airto Moreira: Appearance Modern Drummer Festival 2003
Airto Moreira - Tombo in 7/4