Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

AIRTO

(b Airto Guimorva Moreira, 5 Aug. '41, Itaiopolis, Brazil) Percussionist, singer. On radio age six; studied guitar and piano late '40s, later formed own groups, played all over Brazil, collecting and studying many instruments. To USA '68 with his wife, vocalist Flora Purim; to NYC c'70, records with Miles Davis; worked with Lee Morgan '71; became a busy freelance, recording with Stan Getz, Cannonball Adderley, Gato Barbieri, Al Di Meola, Weather Report, many others; original member of Chick Corea's Return To Forever. Own LPs incl. Free '72 and Fingers '73 on CTI; Virgin Land '74 on Salvation, with Purim, Stanley Clarke, George Duke, others; Identity '75, Promises Of The Sun '76 on Arista; Brazilian Heatwave on Accord; see also entry for Purim. Band with Purim appeared in London June '86; Dave Gelly wrote in the Observer, 'I doubt whether anyone else could get away with sending the band off for a breather, getting a packed crowd yelling with excitement [with] a tambourine and a whistle.' Three Way Mirror '85 on Reference incl. Purim and Farrell. With Mickey Hart, Purim and others on D„fos and Planet Drum on Rykodisc, the latter also incl. Olatunji. Further albums have been Killer Bees on B&W by Airto and the Gods Of Jazz (with Purim, Corea, Clarke, Herbie Hancock etc), The Other Side Of This '92 on Rykodisc, Seeds On The Ground '94 on One Way/Sequel.