Contours – Balafon Sketches

Brazilian drummer & percussionist Airto Moreira’s second solo LP Seeds On The Ground – The Natural Sounds Of Airto is a “world music” masterpiece that blends a variety of influences from jazz fusion, psychedelic rock, bossa nova, latin jazz, to Brazilian folk. The album features a heavyweight supporting cast of Brazilian all-stars including wife Flora Purim, Hermeto Pascoal, Sivuca, Dom Um Romao, along with American bassist Ron Carter. Airto was already a legend in the jazz fusion scene after stints with Miles Davis, Weather Report, and Return to Forever, but Seeds On The Ground is perhaps his master work. The sounds and melodies are intimate, organic, and more in tune with Airto’s Brazilian folk roots than his previous jazz fusion works. Our cut is the melancholic A3 Uri (Wind) that features the couple Purim and Moreira singing a folk melody that slowly transcends into wild chanting sounds that reflect the natural beauty of the night.
Recommended – A1 Andei (I Walked), A3 Uri (Wind)
A1 Andei (I Walked)
A2 O Sonho (Moon Dreams)
A3 Uri (Wind)
A4 Papo Furado (Jive Talking)
B1 Juntos (We Love)
B2 O Galho Da Roseira (The Branches Of The Rose Tree)
B3 O Galho Da Roseira (The Branches Of The Rose Tree) Part II
Accordion, Acoustic Guitar, Voice – Severino De Oliveira (Sivuca)
Bass, Voice – Ron Carter
Percussion, Voice – Dom Um Romao
Vocals, Percussion, Voice – Airto
Acoustic Guitar, Flute, Voice – Hermeto Pascoal
Vocals – Flora Purim