CD of the Day - "Flora Purim: Everyday Everynight"

CD of the Day

Flora Purim: "Everyday Everynight" (Milestone/Victor VICJ 61020) 2002

The original LP was released, in 1978, for contractual reasons, by Warner Bros. (in the USA) and by Milestone (in Europe, Asia and Brazil)

Produced by Bob Monaco & Airto Moreira, magnificently arranged & conducted by the late French maestro Michel Colombier, it stands out as one of the highlights in Flora's discography.

A very high budget allowed Flora, Michel and the producers to assemble an unbelievable all-star cast: Jaco Pastorius, Herbie Hancock, Michael & Randy Brecker, Raul de Souza, Harvey Mason, Alphonso Johnson, Chester Thompson (then the second drummer of Genesis), George Duke, Lee Ritenour, Oscar Castro-Neves, David Sanborn, Byron Miller, Michael Boddicker, David Foster, Jon Faddis, Jim Pugh, Laudir de Oliveira and many others.

People like Lani Hall, Marcos Valle and Yana Purim are heard on the backing vocals.

All the basic tracks were cut at the Conway Studio in Hollywood, with the strings (performed by the London Symphony Orchestra) added at CTS Music Center in Wembley, and the horns overdubbed at George Klabin's Sound Ideas Studio in NYC.

My personal favorite tracks are Pastorius' "Las Olas", Jean Hancock's "Why I'm Alone", the electrifying "Samba Michel" and the haunting ballad "The Hope", two of the several tunes written by Michel Colombier, Airto & Flora specially for the album.

Colombier also collaborated with Yana Purim (writing the song "Blue Ballad" based in a poem by Flora's sister) and Hugo Fattoruso/George Fattoruso/Nicole Croisille (on "Walking Away", also released as a single).