AIRTO MOREIRA — Free (review)

AIRTO MOREIRA — Free album cover Album · 1972 · Fusion Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
dreadpirateroberts
Sadly, this is the only set I have with Airto as leader. As I've always been interested in his work, especially after hearing his many fine contributions to dozens of other artists, 'Free' hardly seemed a risk.

Where to begin? 'Free' has a clear Fusion feel to its Latin-Jazz, not simply due to the beats and percussion either. While the line-up is expanded here, it is basically that of Chick Corea's first 'Return to Forever' album, with Corea, Clarke, Purim, Farrell and Airto all working on 'Free.'

The results are fantastic, opening with the same sinister electric piano/voice duet with Purim and Corea, before breaking into those familiar passages with voice and flute that were first revealed on Corea's version. This take of 'Return to Forever' is actually a little faster and maybe even a little better in my opinion, and serves as a great opener.

The longer pieces are stacked early in the album and we have 'Flora's Song' next, followed by the the title track. 'Flora's Song' has an almost Spanish feel to the acoustic guitar and brooding horns. Punctuated by passages of jangly percussion and wordless vocals from Airto, along with moments of beguiling flute, it has an effective 'loud/soft' dynamic that gives most instruments a chance to solo but also makes room for thematic ensemble playing, bringing the sea to mind with its restless swells. 'Free' itself is more experimental in nature, exploring a host of percussive sounds but ultimately having less of a pay off for all of its wandering.

A Jarret composition, 'Lucky Southern' with its brevity and brightness, makes a great follow-up to the title track. It's almost jaunty and changes the mood perfectly, just in time for the wild 'Creek' with its insistent, shuffling drum beat and bebop-sounding soprano solo. The piece charges forward for the whole five minutes and closes the album on a snappy note with on some acoustic piano from Corea.

As a CTI release, this album is stamped with familiar faces. Produced by Taylor, featuring arrangements by Sebesky and guests such as Hubert Laws, George Benson and Jay Berliner, it is clear that most of these players, along with the rest of the line-up, would have played with each other many times before. For instance, aside from 'Return to Forever,' Airto also played on Benson's 'White Rabbit' as did Laws and Berliner, along with Laws' 'In the Beginning' all in the same couple of years. So many of the players had already crossed paths multiple times that the music almost couldn't help but click together in a most satisfying manner. Four stars easy.

Bonus tracks include a distinctive Jarret piece 'So Tender' and the mid-tempo flute showcase 'Jequié.'
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