Airto Moreira and his wife
Flora Purim provided their most essential recordings in the '70s, but the two were still quite capable of excellence in the '80s and '90s, either in separate groups or as a team. In 1995, the Brazilian artists toured Europe as co-leaders of a combo called
Fourth World, which boasted Moreira on percussion, drums, and vocals, Purim on vocals,
José Neto on guitar, Gary Brown on bass, and Jovino Santos on keyboards and flute. Recorded live at the Bimhuis in Amsterdam on February 19, 1995, Encounters of the Fourth World paints an attractive picture of the group. The music is solid jazz-funk-rock with a Brazilian flavor. Anyone who has appreciated Moreira and Purim's '70s and '80s collaborations would have a hard time not appreciating their inspired performances on material that ranges from the pensive "Scorpion Rising" to the mysterious "Burning Money." When she isn't embracing lyrics, Purim reminds us that she is still one of jazz's most original scat singers. Encounters of the Fourth World falls short of essential, but it's a consistently pleasing CD that Moreira and Purim's devoted fans will enjoy. ~ Alex Henderson