Flora Purim - Butterfly Dreams (1973) {2007 Milestone} [Keepnews Collection Complete Series]

Flora Purim - Butterfly Dreams (1973) {2007 Milestone} [Keepnews Collection Complete Series]

Jazz / Latin Jazz / Fusion / Vocal Jazz

Remastered in 24-bit from the original master tapes. Part of our Keepnews Collection, which spotlights classic albums originally produced by the legendary Orrin Keepnews. The 1974 release of this album on the Fantasy group's Milestone label created an instant impact and launched one of the most exciting and tempestuous vocalists of the decade. Flora Purim and her husband, the brilliant percussionist Airto Moreira, had been part of Chick Corea's "Return to Forever" band, and Airto had gained much attention with Miles Davis, but this record combined their Brazilian rhythms for the first time with the "fusion" jazz of players like George Duke and Stanley Clarke. The result was a high-energy music of enormous appeal. This is the album that launched Flora Purim's solo career with great promise following her magnificent stint with Chick Corea's first incarnation of Return to Forever. Most of the tracks on this album sound like they would have fit very nicely onto one of RTF's first two LPs, with bandmate Stanley Clarke not only lending support on electric and acoustic bass, but also contributing original compositions and arrangements to the mix. The rest of the supporting cast is not too shabby either, including sax and flute man Joe Henderson, keyboard whiz kid George Duke, guitarist David Amaro, and Purim's other half, percussion legend Airto Moreira. Clarke's funky "Dr. Jive" and lyrical "Butterfly Dreams" are standout tracks here, as is the upbeat Egberto Gismonti composition "Moon Dreams." Duke shows his light Brazilian side on "Love Reborn," featuring Henderson's tenor sax solo and Amaro's lovely acoustic guitar. Purim delivers a gorgeous take on Jobim's well-known ballad "Dindi," and reshapes the standard "Summer Night" into a wordless vocal in her unmistakable style. The disc closes with a fine reworking of Clarke's now-classic "Light as a Feather," which strays not too far from the original RTF version. Neatly capturing Flora Purim's many vocal strengths, Butterfly Dreams delivered on the great expectations generated by her work with Corea and turned out to be a high point in her recording career. Personnel: Flora Purim: vocals Joe Henderson: flute, tenor saxophone George Duke: electric and acoustic piano, clavinet, synthesizer David Amaro: electric and acoustic guitar Ernie Hood: zither Stanley Clarke: electric and acoustic bass Airto Moreira: drums, percussion tracklist: 01 - Dr. Jive (part 1) 02 - Butterfly Dreams 03 - Dindi 04 - Summer Night 05 - Love Reborn 06 - Moon Dreams 07 - Dr. Jive (part 2) 08 - Light as a Feather