Airto Moreira

Origin

Itaiópolis, SC

Years Active

1962

Genres

jazz fusion, sambalanço, bossa nova, brazilian jazz, instrumental music

Instruments

drums, percussion, piano, violin, mandolin, vocals

Biography

Airto Guimorvan Moreira was born in Itaiópolis, Santa Catarina, in 1941, building a prominent international trajectory as a drummer, percussionist, and composer. In his youth, he lived in different cities where he developed his musical background studying voice, piano, violin, and mandolin before settling in Curitiba and subsequently beginning his nationally prominent artistic career.

In the 1960s, he was a member of important instrumental groups on the Brazilian scene, such as Sambalanço Trio, Sambrasa Trio, and the influential Quarteto Novo, alongside artists like Hermeto Pascoal, Heraldo do Monte, and Theo de Barros. At the end of that same period, he moved to the United States, where he collaborated on landmark projects and established a professional and personal partnership with his wife, singer Flora Purim.

His insertion into the international scene gained momentum when he participated in the album Bitches Brew by Miles Davis, cementing his reputation in jazz fusion and global instrumental music. Throughout his career, Airto has released numerous solo albums and participated in fundamental groups such as Return to Forever, in addition to receiving prominent awards, including recognition from Down Beat magazine and participation in Grammy-winning projects alongside musicians such as Mickey Hart.

Discography

• Natural Feelings (1970)
• Seeds On The Ground - The Natural Sounds Of Airto (1971)
• Free (1972)
• Fingers (1973)
• Deodato / Airto – In Concert (1974)
• Virgin Land (1974)
• Identity (1975)
• Promises Of The Sun (1976)
• Circo Marimbondo (1976)
• I'm Fine. How Are You? (1977)
• Touching You...Touching Me (1979)
• Mickey Hart, Airto, Flora Purim – Däfos (1983)
• Airto Moreira, Gil Evans, WDR Big Band – Misa Espiritual – Airto's Brazilian Mass (1983)
• David Friesen, Chick Corea, Joe Henderson, Paul Horn, Airto Moreira, Paul Motian – Amber Skies (1984)
• Latino / Aqui Se Puede (1984)
• Airto Moreira, Flora Purim, Joe Farrell – Three-Way Mirror (1985)
• Flora Purim & Airto – Humble People (1985)
• Flora Purim And Airto – The Magicians (1986)
• Yana Purim , Special Guests Luiz Bonfá and Airto Moreira – For a Distant Love (1986)
• Flora Purim & Airto – The Sun Is Out (1987)
• Sarmad (With Airto And Friends) (1987)
• Stanley Clarke, Bill Shields, Airto Moreira – Easy Listening (1987)
• Sarmad (2), Airto Moreira – Life (With Airto And Friends) (1987)
• Airto Moreira / Flora Purim – The Colours Of Life (1988)
• Samba de Flora (1989)
• Struck By Lightning (1989)
• The Other Side Of This (1992)
• Airto Moreira And The Gods Of Jazz – Killer Bees (1993)
• David Friesen, Airto Moreira, Gary Barone – Ancient Kings (1994)
• Colin Farish With Airto Moreira – Curious Species (1994)
• Airto Moreira & Fourth World, Eddie Gomez Trio, Igor Butman Quartet, Toninho Horta And Special Guest William Galison – Live In Moscow - Москва MCMXCII (3 CD Collection) (1994)
• Jovino Santos Neto Quarteto Featuring Special Guest Airto Moreira – Caboclo (1997)
• Revenge Of The Killer Bees (1998)
• Bob Azzam / Airto Moreira – Batucada por Favor Album Sampler (1998)
• Parney da Castro / Airto Moreira – Ba-Tu-Ca-Da (1999)
• Homeless (2000)
• Presents : <Code : Brasil> <Target : Recife> (2000)
• Life After That (2003)
• Chick Corea - Eddie Gomez - Airto Moreira – The Boston Three Party (2007)
• 9 O'Clock (2) Spezial Guest Airto Moreira – 9 O’clock (2007)
• Jacob Anderskov & Airto Moreira – Ears To The Ground (2008)
• Oscar Castro-Neves With Special Guests Airto Moreira And Leila Pinheiro Featuring Marco Bosco (4), Paulo Calasans And Marcelo Mariano – Live At Blue Note Tokyo (2009)
• Eumir Deodato Feat. Al Jarreau, Londonbeat, Paco Sery, Airto Moreira, Billy Cobham, John Tropea, Novecento – The Crossing (2010)
• Airto Moreira & Flora Purim – Live In Berkeley (2012)
• Aluê (2017)
• Ron Carter, Airto Moreira, Peter Erskine – Sides Of: Jazz (2018)
• Nuno Mindelis Special Guests Airto Moreira, Flora Purim – Angola Blues (2019)
• Airto Moreira & Flora Purim – Live At Jazzfest Bremen 1988 (2021)
• Eu Canto Assim (2021)
• No Goodbyes (Live Los Angeles '79) (2023)
• Airto Moreira, Ricardo Bacelar Feat. Flora Purim – Maracanós (2026)
• Sandro Albert With Airto Moreira, Russell Ferrante, Robben Ford, Mark Ledford – The Color Of Things