Brazilian percussionist/drummer with long time collaborator group Eyedentity perform a wide variety of styles such as Afro-Brazilian, Samba and Bossa Nova, straight ahead Jazz and funky Jazz Fusion
Thursday, Jan 23
8pm $22 adv, $24 door
One of the most famous and high-profile musicians in his field, Brazilian percussionist/drummer Airto Moreira helped make percussion an essential part of modern Jazz. Airto was born in 1941 in the small village of Itaiopolis - south Brasil, and was raised in Curitiba. Even before he could walk he would start shaking and banging on the floor every time the radio played a hot song. This worried his mother, but his grandmother recognized his potential and encouraged him to express himself. By the time he was six years old he had won many music contests by singing and playing percussion. The city gave him his own radio program every Saturday afternoon. At thirteen he became a professional musician, playing percussion, drums, and singing in local dance bands. He moved to Sao Paulo at the age of sixteen and performed regularly in nightclubs and television as a percussionist, drummer and singer. ...
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Brazilian percussionist/drummer with long time collaborator group Eyedentity perform a wide variety of styles such as Afro-Brazilian, Samba and Bossa Nova, straight ahead Jazz and funky Jazz Fusion
Thursday, Jan 23
8pm $22 adv, $24 door
One of the most famous and high-profile musicians in his field, Brazilian percussionist/drummer Airto Moreira helped make percussion an essential part of modern Jazz. Airto was born in 1941 in the small village of Itaiopolis - south Brasil, and was raised in Curitiba. Even before he could walk he would start shaking and banging on the floor every time the radio played a hot song. This worried his mother, but his grandmother recognized his potential and encouraged him to express himself. By the time he was six years old he had won many music contests by singing and playing percussion. The city gave him his own radio program every Saturday afternoon. At thirteen he became a professional musician, playing percussion, drums, and singing in local dance bands. He moved to Sao Paulo at the age of sixteen and performed regularly in nightclubs and television as a percussionist, drummer and singer.
In 1965 he met the singer Flora Purim in Rio de Janeiro. Flora moved to the USA in 1967 and Airto followed her shortly after. When in New York Airto began playing with musicians such as Reggie Workman, JJ Johnson, Cedar Walton and bassist Walter Booker. It was through Booker that Airto began playing with the greats - Cannonball Adderley, Lee Morgan, Paul Desmond and Joe Zawinul, to name a few. Zawignul recommended Airto to Miles Davis for a recording session in 1970 for the “Bitches Brew” album. Davis then invited Airto to join his group, which included such jazz icons as Wayne Shorter, Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette, Chick Corea and later John McLaughlin and Keith Jarrett. He remained with Miles for two years, and appears on such releases as “Live/Evil”, “Live at the Fillmore”, “On the Corner”, “The Isle of Wight”, “Bitches Brew” and later releases including the “Fillmore Sessions”.
In 1974 Airto formed his first band in the U.S., “Fingers” with Flora Purim. Since then they have performed constantly all over the world and recorded their own album for major record companies in Europe and America. Airto remains one of popular music’s most in demand percussionists. His collection of instruments, along with his knack for playing the right sound at the right moment, has made him the first choice of many producers and bandleaders. His work with Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, George Duke, Paul Simon, Carlos Santana, Gil Evans, Gato Barbieri, Michael Brecker, The Crusaders, Chicago, and many others including contributions to movie sound tracks such as The Exorcist, Last Tango in Paris, King of the Gypsies and Apocalypse Now, represents only a small number of the musical contributions Airto has made over the last four decades.
In 2011 Airto celebrated his 70th birthday! To commemorate this incredible milestone, Airto put together a one of a kind show with long time collaborator group Eyedentity. Now in 2013 Airto & Eyedentity will once again be performing together. This band is a very exciting mix of cultures, sounds, colors and rhythms which generates a powerful and enlightening energy. They perform a wide variety of styles such as Afro-Brazilian, Samba and Bossa Nova, straight ahead Jazz and funky Jazz Fusion with African, World, Latin and Hip-Hop influences all together in one show! Airto as always keeps everything in perspective, taking chances to grow and expand his musicality by bringing fresh, new and great music to the steady stream of fans that year by year attend his concerts in droves. This music will satisfy the new listener as well as the loyal fan. They are reaching audiences of the future with several hits already being played between the top five European groups (Bond, Bellini Brothers, Depeche Mode, and several Sony video games that have already gone platinum). This performance is a must see! We guarantee you will come away feeling invigorated and inspired!
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