Although Airto Moreira was never a jazz purist, most of his work has been jazz-oriented. From his years with Chick Corea's first Return to Forever lineup to his classic CTI dates of the 1970s to his work on wife Flora Purim's albums, the Brazilian drummer/vocalist has been known for combining jazz with Brazilian music, rock, and funk. No one could ever accuse Purim's husband of being someone who is only interested in showing the world how fast he can play John Coltrane's "Giant Steps," but it is safe to say that most of Moreira's work has been jazz-oriented even though it isn't straight-ahead bop. Homeless, however, is a Moreira project that has very little to do with jazz. This diverse, highly rhythmic CD draws on everything from pop, funk, hip-hop, and Afro-Brazilian tribal chanting to club and rave music, but jazz considerations aren't a priority. Although Homeless isn't the least bit predictable, there is something that ties all the material together: rhythm. Whether Moreira is embracing melodic Brazilian pop on the introspective "Wake Up Now" (which features his daughter, singer Diana Moreira Booker), getting into Afro-Brazilian tribal sounds on "The Last One" and "Come As You Are" (which are all rhythm and no melody), or getting into a moody yet funky rave/trance groove on "Vira Poeira (Burning to Dust)," the common denominator is Moreira's distinctively Brazilian sense of rhythm. The lead vocals are shared by Moreira and Booker; while Moreira sings in Portuguese, his daughter handles the English lyrics. Not surprisingly, Booker sounds somewhat like Purim, although she does have an appealing delivery of her own. This likable, if a bit uneven, CD isn't among Moreira's essential releases, but it's an intriguing addition to his catalog -- and he deserves credit for trying something a bit. by Alex Henderson
Tracklist :
1 Vira Poeira (Turn to Dust) 4:47
Krishna Booker / Airto Moreira
2 Come as You Are 4:45
Airto Moreira
3 700 Years 4:48
Krishna Booker / Giovanni Hidalgo / Airto Moreira
4 After These Messages 3:03
Krishna Booker / Airto Moreira
5 Street Vendors (D'Jmbo) 5:02
Krishna Booker / Airto Moreira
6 Wake up Now 4:16
Airto Moreira / José Neto
7 Homeless (Around the Fire) 6:19
Airto / Airto Moreira
8 Samba 4 Sale 6:59
Airto Moreira
9 Ginga Sem Fronteira 5:57
Krishna Booker / Airto Moreira
10 The Last One 4:41
Airto Moreira
Credits :
Backing Vocals – Airto Moreira (faixas: 1, 2, 3, 6), Db a.k.a. Decibel (faixas: 9), The Factor (faixas: 1, 2)
Bass – Gary Brown (faixas: 3, 6)
Drums – Airto Moreira (faixas: 1, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10), Changuito (faixas: 6), Meia Noite (faixas: 5), Pablo Silva (faixas: 2, 8)
Flute [Wooden Flutes] – Airto Moreira
Guitar – José Neto
Human Beatbox – The Factor (faixas: 4)
Keyboards – The Factor (faixas: 1, 3, 5, 9)
Lead Vocals – Airto Moreira (faixas: 1, 5, 9), Db a.k.a. Decibel (faixas: 3, 5, 6,)
Lyrics By [Portuguese Words] – Hilton Barcelos (faixas: 9)
Other [Background Ambience] – Airto Moreira (faixas: 7, 8, 10), Db a.k.a. Decibel (faixas: 7, 10), Flora Purim (faixas: 7), Freddie Santiago (faixas: 7), Giovanni Hidalgo (faixas: 7), The Factor (faixas: 10)
Percussion – Airto Moreira (faixas: 1 - 3, 5 - 9), Amén Santos (faixas: 2, 8, 10), Changuito (faixas: 3, 4), Freddie Santiago (faixas: 6), Giovanni Hidalgo (faixas: 3, 6), Meia Noite (faixas: 1, 4, 5), Pablo Silva (faixas: 10)
In the early '80s, Tânia Maria burst upon the U.S. music scene, playing an exuberant blend of Brazilian pop and jazz. Her first few recordings for Concord Picante (of which Come with Me is the third) remain her most rewarding sets. Maria's spirited vocals and hyper keyboard work star throughout the date (which finds her interpreting seven of her originals and "Embraceable You"), supported by a sextet including both Eddie Duran and José Neto on guitar. Worth checking out. Scott Yanow
