AIRTO MOREIRA - Samba de Flora (1989) 32bits-96Hz / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

An effusively performed minor classic of Brazilian jazz fusion, percussionist Airto Moreira's 1988 album Samba de Flora found him diving into an organic mix of originals and covers alongside equally gifted collaborators including his wife vocalist Flora Purim, Argentine pianist Jorge Dalto, bassist Alphonso Johnson, percussionist Don Alias, Cuban conga player Cachete, and others. The album was originally released on the cult independent Montuno Records label, based out of the Record Mart record store located in the Times Square subway station. Founded by Latin music impresario Al Santiago in 1975, Montuno issued album after album documenting the exuberant music and musicians whom Latin fans -- and specifically Latin dance fans -- were digging in NYC in the '70s and '80s. The centerpiece of the album is the propulsive minor-key title track, which features Moreira on both percussion and vocals, leading his band through an absolutely infectious dancefloor banger. Following the songs' minute-long percussion intro, Moreira and his band erupt into a dynamic call-and-response verse that conjures images of stylish dancers coupled in a sweaty samba frenzy. Equally captivating is the group's buoyant reading of Hugo Fattoruso and Ruben Rada's "Dedos" featuring Purim's earthy, smiling vocals. Elsewhere, they offer a similarly sparkling rendition of George Duke's "Yanah Amina" and plunge into the electric guitar-tinged Tropicalia of "Latin Woman." Moreira also reveals a gift for elegiac balladry, showcasing his burnished baritone vocals on the yearning, spare piano numbers "Mulambo" and "La Puerta." As with many of the LPs released by Montuno, Samba de Flora is a warmly produced album with a vibrant live aesthetic that steams with the energy and passion of a concert given in the heat of a New York City summer. by Matt Collar  
Tracklist :
1     Parana 4:26
Bass – Alphonso Johnson
Berimbau – Frank Colon
Drums, Percussion, Vocals – Airto Moreira
Guitar – Roland Bautista
Keyboards – Jorge Dalto
Percussion – Don Alias, Giovanni "Mañenguito" Hidalgo
Synthesizer – Kei Akagi
2     Samba de Flora 6:16
Tite Curet Alonso / Jorge Dalto
Bass – Michael Shapiro
Drums, Vocals – Airto Moreira
Keyboards – Jorge Dalto
Percussion – Angel "Cachete" Maldonado, Donald Alias*, Frank Colon, Giovanni "Mañenguito" Hidalgo     
3     La Puerta 5:39
Luis Demetrio
Piano [Acoustic] – Jorge Dalto
Vocals – Airto Moreira
4     Dedos 5:22
Hugo Fattoruso / Ruben Rada
Bass – Alphonso Johnson
Bongos – Giovanni "Mañenguito" Hidalgo
Congas – Angel "Cachete" Maldonado
Drums, Percussion – Airto Moreira
Keyboards – Jorge Dalto
Synthesizer – Kei Akagi
Trombone – Raul De Souza
Trumpet – Jeff Elliott
Vocals – Flora Purim, Rafael José
5     Yanah Amina 3:22
George Duke
Backing Vocals – Jill Avery
Bass – Randy Tico
Drums, Percussion, Congas – Airto Moreira
Saxophone, Flute, Soloist – David Tolegian
Trumpet – Rolando Gingras
Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Soloist – Jeff Elliott
Vocals – Flora Purim
6     El Fiasco 5:56
Jeff Elliott
Bass – Randy Tico
Drums – Tony Moreno
Keyboards – Bruce Bigenho
Percussion – Luiz Muños
Percussion, Congas – Airto Moreira
Saxophone – David Tolegian
Trumpet – Jeff Elliott, Rolando Gingras
7     Mulambo 6:30
Public Domain / Jaime Florence / Augusto Mesquita
Piano [Acoustic] – Jorge Dalto
Vocals – Airto Moreira, Flora Purim
8     Latin Woman 5:24
Bass – Keith Jones
Drums – Tony Moreno
Guitar – Larry Nass
Horns – Jeff Elliott
Keyboards – Jorge Dalto
Percussion, Congas – Airto Moreira
Piccolo Flute – Joe Farrell
Vocals – Flora Purim
Larry Nass