Airto's new album, "Aluê," coming out soon

Brazilian master percussionist Airto Moreira, based in LA since 1975, has a new CD coming out soon. Titled "Aluê," it's his first solo album recorded in his native country since he moved to New York in 1967, and will be released by the SESC label in co-operation with drummer Carlos Ezequiel's Engrenagens Produções Artísticas. The title comes from a tune originally recorded in 1970 on his debut LP as a leader, "Natural Feelings" (produced by Gary McFarland for the mythical Skye label that Gary owned with Cal Tjader and Gabor Szabo.)

To celebrate the new release (recorded in November 2016), Airto will do a short Brazilian tour, performing in São Paulo (several SESC theaters in 3 cities) and Rio de Janeiro (at the recently opened Blue Note Rio venue), leading a band with guitarist José Neto, drummer Carlos Ezequiel, bassist Sizão Machado, saxophonist Vitor Alcantara, keyboardist Fabio Leandro, and Airto & Flora Purim's daughter singer Diana Purim Moreira Booker aka dB of Eyedentity fame.

Two of Airto's albums recorded for CTI in the early 1970s will be reissued soon in Japan: "Fingers" (to be released November 15 as part of the "CTI + RVG Ultimate Remastering Series") and Deodato/Airto's "In Concert" (on December 6, on the "CTI 50th Anniversary Special Collection.") He is also featured on three albums by the CTI All Stars: "California Concert," "CTI Summer Jazz At Hollywood Bowl" and "Live at Montreux 2009."