If You Will | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 2022 | |||
Studio | Astrolábio Studio, Curitiba, Brazil; C.A. Studios, California; Click AudioWorks, Curitiba, Brazil; San Anselmo Studio, California; Säo Saruê Label, Curitiba, Brazil | |||
Genre | Jazz | |||
Length | 43:48 | |||
Label | Strut Records STRUT271LP | |||
Producer | Flora Purim | |||
Flora Purim chronology | ||||
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If You Will is an album by Brazilian jazz vocalist Flora Purim. Her first studio release in over 15 years, it was recorded in Brazil and California, and was issued in 2022 by Strut Records in celebration of the singer's 80th birthday. The album is the creative concept of Italian, London based, radio-dj Roberta Cutolo who engaged on this remote-production journey with Flora Purim during the pandemic by managing to lock a recording deal with Strut Records in the UK. They conceived and drew up together the idea of a 'latin-jazz-dance' album with a message which was going to appeal to new audiences as well as the older ones who instantly showed being particularly appreciative of the fact that Flora Purim was unexpectedly releasing something new after such a long time. On the album, which is dedicated to the memory of George Duke and Chick Corea, Purim is joined by a large group of musicians, including her husband, percussionist Airto Moreira, and daughter, vocalist Diana Purim. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
According to Purim, If You Will, which features a blend of old and new material, will be her final album. [6] When asked why she recorded it after such a long period of inactivity, she replied: "When I saw what was happening with the world, I felt that God didn't give me the gift of singing for no reason. I think he had something in mind. I'm supposed to help. And I cannot omit myself any longer from what's going on in the world. So I'm going to take it in stride, and I'm going to go back." [7]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
DownBeat | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
All About Jazz | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Jazzwise | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
In a review for DownBeat , J. Poet wrote that Purim's voice "remains supple and expressive," and noted that the new pieces "showcase her continuing artistic growth." [8]
AllMusic's Thom Jurek stated: "If You Will is a revelatory exercise. Purim -- whose voice remains unsullied by time -- is easily one of the most groundbreaking singers jazz has ever produced, but more, she's an architect and translator of vastly intricate, gorgeously articulated sound worlds. Flora Purim is a genre unto herself." [1]
Neil Spencer of The Guardian called the album "a celebratory affair," and remarked: "A well-polished gem – welcome back." [9]
Writing for All About Jazz , Ian Patterson described the album as "a fine testament to a unique figure in contemporary Brazilian music," and commented: "The production values are excellent, as are the performances from Purim and the trusted collaborators with whom she surrounds herself." [10]
In an article for Jazzwise , Jane Cornwell called the album "one of 2022's most exciting releases to date," and noted the "seductive power" of Purim's "emotional, often ecstatic vocals." [11]
Dusted Magazine's Jennifer Kelly wrote: "It's remarkable, throughout, how well Purim has held up, as a singer, as a jazz composer and band leader and as an artist. You wouldn't know, from listening, whether she was 80 or 60 or 20. The songs are vital, pulsing with bright energy, imbued with a lifetime's skill but effervescent." [12]
Cal Gibson of Ban Ban Ton Ton stated: "Flora is not so much raging against the dying of the light as sweetly seducing it, whispering to old father time to wait a little longer... Treasure this album, treasure Flora Purim, treasure life itself: all this will pass but Flora Purim is a timeless joy." [13]
Return to Forever was an American jazz fusion band that was founded by pianist Chick Corea in 1972. The band has had many members, with the only consistent bandmate of Corea's being bassist Stanley Clarke. Along with Weather Report, The Headhunters, and Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return to Forever is often cited as one of the core groups of the jazz-fusion movement of the 1970s. Several musicians, including Clarke, Flora Purim, Airto Moreira and Al Di Meola, came to prominence through their performances on Return to Forever albums.
Flora Purim is a Brazilian jazz singer known primarily for her work in the jazz fusion style. She became prominent for her part in Return to Forever with Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke. She has recorded and performed with numerous artists, including Dizzy Gillespie, Gil Evans, Opa, Stan Getz, George Duke, Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead, Santana, Jaco Pastorius, and her husband Airto Moreira.
Return to Forever is a jazz fusion album by Chick Corea, simultaneously functioning as the debut album by the band of the same name. Unlike later albums by the group, it was released by the ECM label and produced by Manfred Eicher. The album was not released in the USA until 1975. The record is often considered one of the classic albums in electric jazz.
Airto Guimorvan Moreira is a Brazilian jazz drummer and percussionist. He is married to jazz singer Flora Purim, and their daughter Diana Moreira is also a singer. Coming to prominence in the late 1960s as a member of the Brazilian ensemble Quarteto Novo, he moved to the United States and worked in jazz fusion with Miles Davis and Return to Forever.
Borboletta is the sixth studio album by the American Latin rock band Santana. It is one of their jazz-funk-fusion oriented albums, along with Caravanserai (1972), and Welcome (1973). Non-band albums by Carlos Santana in this style also include Love Devotion Surrender (1973) with John McLaughlin and Illuminations (1974) with Alice Coltrane, Jack DeJohnette and Jules Broussard. The guitarist leaves much room to percussion, saxophone and keyboards to set moods, as well as lengthy solos by himself and vocals. The record was released in a metallic blue sleeve displaying a butterfly, an allusion to the album Butterfly Dreams (1973) by Brazilian musician Flora Purim and her husband Airto Moreira, whose contributions deeply influenced the sound of Borboletta. In Portuguese, borboleta means "butterfly".
Speak No Evil is a 2003 album by the Brazilian singer Flora Purim. The name of the album is a tribute to a 1965 album and song by Wayne Shorter.
Lovers is an album by jazz saxophonist Cannonball Adderley. It was recorded at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, California in 1975 by Adderley with Nat Adderley, Alvin Batiste, George Duke, Alphonso Johnson, Jack DeJohnette, Airto Moreira. A posthumously released track included Flora Purim, Nat Adderley Jr., and Ron Carter.
Butterfly Dreams is the second studio album by Brazilian jazz singer Flora Purim. It was released in 1973 via Milestone Records. Recording sessions took place at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, California in December 1973.
Live at Ronnie Scott's is a live album by the Brazilian jazz group Fourth World, that was released by the Ronnie Scott's Jazz House record label in 1992.
Opa were an American jazz fusion band made up of Uruguayan members. They started in the 1970s, and released two albums in the US: Goldenwings and Magic Time. Both were produced by Brazilian musician and composer Airto Moreira.
Fingers is a studio album by Brazilian jazz drummer and percussionist Airto Moreira, credited simply as Airto. It was released on CTI Records in 1973. It peaked at number 18 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart.
I'm Fine, How Are You? is an album by the Brazilian jazz drummer and percussionist Airto Moreira released in 1977.
Feel is the fifth studio album by the American keyboard player George Duke, released on October 28, 1974, by MPS Records. The album reached No. 17 on the Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart.
A Brazilian Love Affair is the fifteenth studio album by American keyboardist and record producer George Duke. It was released in 1980 through Epic Records. Recording sessions for the album took place from March 1979 to April 1979 at Level E Hawai Recording Studio in Rio de Janeiro and at Westlake Recording Studios with additional recording at Le Gonks West Studio in West Hollywood, California. It was mastered by Brian Gardner at Allen Zentz Recording Studio in Los Angeles.
I Love the Blues, She Heard My Cry is the seventh studio album by American keyboardist George Duke. It was released in 1975 through MPS Records. Recording sessions for the album took place at Paramount Recording Studios in Hollywood, California. The album features contributions from frequent collaborators Leon "Ndugu" Chancler on drums, Airto Moreira and Flora Purim with guest appearances by trombonist Bruce Fowler, bassist Tom Fowler, percussionists Ruth Underwood and Emil Richards, guitarists Lee Ritenhour, Daryl Stuermer, Johnny "Guitar" Watson and others musicians. This album is dedicated to the memory of the late Julian "Cannonball" Adderley.
Open Your Eyes You Can Fly is the fifth solo studio album by Brazilian jazz singer Flora Purim. It was released in 1976 via Milestone Records. Recording sessions for the album took place at Paramount Recording Studios in Los Angeles, California. The album features contributions from Airto Moreira on percussion and vocals, David Amaro and Egberto Gismonti on guitars, George Duke on keyboards, Hermeto Pascoal on electric piano and flute, Alphonso Johnson and Ron Carter on bass, Robertinho Silva and Leon "Ndugu" Chancler on drums, and Laudir de Oliveira on congas. One of the songs featured here, Sometime Ago, was composed by Chick Corea with lyrics by Neville Potter and was featured on the eponymous album by Return to Forever produced in 1972, Flora Purim and her husband Airto Guimorvan Moreira also played on that album.
Stories to Tell is the fourth solo studio album by Brazilian jazz singer Flora Purim that was released in 1974 on Milestone Records.
500 Miles High is a live album by Brazilian jazz singer Flora Purim that was recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival. It was released in 1974 on Milestone Records.
Encounter is a studio album by Brazilian jazz singer Flora Purim that was released in 1977 on Milestone Records.
Fourth World is the debut album by the Brazilian jazz group Fourth World that was released on B&W Music in 1993.
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