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Flora Purim has earned her two Grammy nominations for Best Female Jazz Performance

Flora Purim (born March 6, 1942 in Rio de Janeiro) is a Brazilian jazz singer known primarily for her work in the jazz fusion style.

Airto Moreira, Flora Purim y Carlinhos Noronha

She was featured for her part on Chick Corea’s landmark album Back to Eternity.

She has recorded and performed with many artists, including Stanley Clarke, Dizzy Gillespie, Gil Evans, Stan Getz, the Grateful Dead, Santana, Jaco Pastorius, and her husband Airto Moreira.

Flora Purim’s voice has earned her two Grammy nominations for Best Female Jazz Performance and Down Beat magazine’s Best Female Singer award four times.

Her musical partners include Gil Evans, Stan Getz, Chick Corea, Dizzy Gillespie and Airto Moreira, with whom she has collaborated on more than 30 albums since moving with him from her native Rio to New York in 1967.

In New York, she and Airto became the center of the period of musical expression and creativity that produced the first commercially successful “Electric Jazz” groups of the 1970s.

Blue Note artist Duke Pearson was the first American musician to invite Flora to sing with him on stage and on record.

She then toured with Gil Evans, about whom she says, “This guy changed my life. He gave us a lot of support to do the craziest things.

This was the beginning for me. Her reputation as an outstanding performer earned her work with Chick Corea and Stan Getz as part of the New Jazz movement that also contained the nurturing influence of saxophonist Cannonball Adderley.

Airto Moreira, Flora Purim e Paulo Rapoport Popó

Soon after, Flora began to seriously re-educate discriminating musical minds after joining with Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke and Joe Farrell to form Return To Forever in late 1971.

Two classic albums resulted – Return to Forever and Light as a Feather nodal points in the development of jazz fusion.

Flora’s first solo album in the United States, Butterfly Dreams, released in 1973, immediately placed her among the top five jazz singers in Down Beat magazine’s jazz poll.

In the mid-1980s, Flora and Airto resumed their musical collaboration to record two albums for Concord – Humble People and The Magicians – for which she received Grammy nominations.

In 1992 she went further by singing on two Grammy winning albums – Planet Drum with Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart (Best World Music Album) and the Dizzy Gillespie United Nations Orchestra (Best Jazz Album).

The launch of the Latin jazz band Fourth World in 1991, featuring Airto, new guitar hero Jose Neto, and keyboard and reeds leader Gary Meek, marked a new era in Flora’s career.

The band was signed to the British jazz label B&W Music, and Flora consciously set out to win over the next wave of listeners.

Flora’s 1995 album Speed of Light, with major writing and performance contributions from Chill Factor and Flora’s daughter Diana Purim Moreira, makes the connection between her experimental beginnings with Chick Corea and Gil Evans and the new “head” music being produced by jazz musicians in the London and New York hip hop scenes.

Flora Purim Open Your Eyes You Can Fly (1976)

1- Open Your Eyes, You Can Fly (Chick Corea-Neville Potter)

2-Time’s Lie (Chick Corea-Neville Potter)

3- Sometime Ago (Chick Corea-Neville Potter)

4-San Francisco River (Airto Moreira-Purim Purim)

5-Andei “I Walked” (Hermeto Pascoal)

6-Ina’s Song “Trip to Bahia” (Flora Purim)

7-Conversation (Hermeto Pascoal)

8-Medley: White Wing/Blank Wing (Hermeto Pascoal-Flora Purim).

arrangements:

Hermeto Pascoal (4.5.7.

Egberto Gismonti (4)

Flora Purim (6)

The whole group (1.2.3)

01-David Amaro – electric guitar

George Duke – electric piano

Alfonso Johnson – electric bass

Ndugu (Leon Chancler) – drums

Background vocals: Flora, David Amaro, George Duke, Hermeto Pascoal

Instrumental solo: David Amaro (electric guitar)

02-Hermeto Pascoal – flute

David Amaro – acoustic guitar

George Duke – electric piano, ARP sequence,

ensemble synthesizer

Alfonso Johnson – electric and acoustic bass – Alfonso Johnson – electric and acoustic bass

Ndugu – drums

Airto Moreira – percussion

Instrumental solo: Hermeto Pascoal (flute), Nudgu (drums)

03-Hermeto Pascoal – flute

David Amaro – electric guitar

George Duke – electric piano, ARP sequence,

ensemble synthesizer

Alfonso Johnson – electric bass

Ndugu – drums

Airto Moreira – percussion

Laudir de Oliveira – congas

Instrumental soloist: Hermeto Pascoal (flute), David Amaro

(electric guitar)

04-Hermeto Pascoal – flute, electric piano

Egberto Gismonti – acoustic guitar

David Amaro – electric guitar

George Duke – moog synthesizer

Alfonso Johnson – electric bass

Ron Carretero – acoustic bass

Robertinho Silva – drums

Instrumental duet: Hermeto Pascoal (flute) and George Duke

(synthesizer

05-Hermeto Pascoal – flute, electric piano

David Amaro – electric guitar

George Duke – moog synthesizer, clavinet

Alfonso Johnson – electric bass

Airto Moreira – percussion

Robertinho Silva – drums, berimbauduet

vocal: Flora Purim and Airto Moreira

Instrumental duet: Hermeto Pascoal (flute), George Duke (flute), George Duke

(synthesizer), David Amaro (electric guitar)

06 -Hermeto Pascoal – electric piano

David Amaro – electric guitar

George Duke – moog, ARP Odyssey and ARP Odyssey sequences, ARP synthesizer

ARP, ensemble synthesizer

Alfonso Johnson – electric and acoustic bass – Alfonso Johnson – electric bass and acoustic bass

Robertinho Silva – drums, percussion

Laudir de Oliveira -congas

Instrumental solo: Georrge Duke (ARP synthesizer)

Odyssey)

07-Hermeto Pascoal – electric piano

David Amaro – electric guitar

George Duke – ARP sequences ensemble and moog synthesizer

moog synthesizer

Alfonso Johnson – acoustic bass

Airto Moreira – percussion

08-Hermeto Pascoal – electric piano, pipe, harpsichord,

whistling, percussion (seven-up bottles)

Egberto Gismonti – acoustic guitar

Ron Carretero – acoustic bass

Alfonso Johnson – electric bass

Airto Moreira – percussion, drums, berimbau

Robertinho Silva – percussion, berimbauduet

vocal: Flora Purim and Airto Moreira

Instrumental solo: Hermeto Pascoal (harpsichord and whistle)

Information realized (March 28, 2008)

Sources:

L’Òstia Latin Jazz

Flora Purim

Also Read: Samuel Quinto Feitosa is a Brazilian virtuoso jazz and classical pianist

The Conga Room closes its doors, but says goodbye in style

Recently, we learned some unfortunate news for the Latin music scene and the community in general and it is that The Conga Room, one of the most important nightclubs in Los Angeles, will close its doors this March, which has shocked those who used to frequent the cheerful and colorful place to forget their everyday problems for a few hours of dancing.

This great place was opened in 1999 by businessman Brad Gluckstein thanks to the support of leading figures in the entertainment industry such as businesswoman, actress and singer Jennifer Lopez, actor Jimmy Smits, actor Paul Rodriguez and actress Sheila E.

Although it first opened its doors on Wilshire Boulevard in 1999, it was moved to L.A.A. LIVE about nine years later. After the change of venue, there were personalities interested in investing in The Conga Room due to the great project it represented at the time, such as rapper and member of the Black Eyed Peas William Adams (better known as will.i.am), actor of Puerto Rican descent Amaury Nolasco, former basketball player Baron Davis and former basketball player Trevor Ariza.

It was these great figures in music, acting and sports who made The Conga Room one of the most recognized meeting places for Latin music fans and its greatest exponents.

Jimmy Smits and Paul Rodriguez at The Conga Roo — Jimmy Smits and Paul Rodriguez celebrating The Conga Room’s 20th anniversary some years ago

The achievements of The Conga Room all these years

During the years following as of its reopening, The Conga Room became an iconic place for music lovers and contributed greatly to the development of the Latin music and cultural scene in Los Angeles.

During 25 years of operation, it has not only brought the best singers and DJs from California and the United States in general, but also managed to create a lively environment composed of all kinds of cultures that transcended musical genres, to the point that there were people of all nationalities dancing to the same rhythms without any problem, proving once again that music is a universal language we can all understand perfectly.

And speaking of music, its little stage witnessed more than 500 live shows that included big stars such as Celia, Cruz, Johnny Pacheco, Willie Colón, Tito Puente, Ocar D’ León, Tito Nieves, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Carlos Santana, Elvis Crespo, Los Van Van, Buena Vista Social Club, Alejandro Sanz, Juanes, Fito Paez, Jerry Rivera, Eddie Santiago, Tony Vega, Zacarias Ferreira, Invasión Latina, Andy Montañez, Atercipelados, Aleks Syntek, Beto Cuevas, among many others. As for newer idols, The Conga Room has also received Ivy Queen, J Balvin, Maluma, Bad Bunny, Luis Fonsi and many more.

It should also be mentioned that; while The Conga Room’s approach is to promote salsa, merengue and bachata; the nightclub is not limited to Latin genres. In fact, there have been great performances by rock, hip hop and R&B artists such as Prince, Stevie Wonder, Lenny Kravitz, Justin Timberlake, Avicci, Snoop Dog, Ed Sheeran, Andy Grammer, Jamie Foxx and on and on.

This shows that The Conga Room was not limited to the original concept of its founders, but sought to go above and beyond to increase its assistance every day. Its management knew how to reinvent itself in spite of trends and circumstances, which is why it managed to survive so long.

Oscar D’ Leon at The Conga Room — Oscar D’ Leon performing at The Conga Room

The Conga Room’s definitive closure and farewell show

The Conga Room was inaugurated with music, so it must also say goodbye with music, so it will offer a private concert this March 27th featuring famous personalities who will meet at the club that day to say goodbye in style.

The main star of the event will be the renowned Puerto Rican singer Gilberto Santa Rosa, who will be one of those responsible for livening up the night for the show attendees with his greatest hits. Likewise, the host will be Jimmy Smits and he will be accompanied by Paul Rodriguez in the hosting of the show, who were bot very important in club maintenance for so long.

As for the reasons for the closure, founder Brad Gluckstein has issued statements saying that the ravages of the pandemic, the few events at the convention center and the difficulties in booking national artists with AEG Live (a company focused on the production and promotion of musical events) have made the business model of The Conga Room no longer viable in today’s economy. Not to mention that cost of living, inflation and high interest rates have changed the priorities of potential consumers.

However, despite the sadness that Gluckstein and the rest of those involved in the Conga Room project have, the businessman pointed out that not everything related to this mythical place will be forgotten, since Conga Kids, a non-profit organization aimed at promoting the social-emotional well-being of children through dancing, will continue to operate as before. This beautiful sister project of The Conga Room will keep its doors open despite the setbacks for the sake of the kids.

Los Adolescentes Giving The Swing The World Needs

Latin America / Venezuela / Caracas

Los Adolescentes “We are premiering our most recent video clips “Close your eyes””

When talking about the great salsa orchestras of Venezuela, there are many names that come to the fore, either because of history, the great successes of the golden years of Salsa in Venezuela or because of their great distinguished voices of so many successes that the world well-known from this land of southern salsa, but if there is something impossible not to mention, it is one of the most important orchestras of this movement of the nineties.

The Adolescents, a group that marked a before and after of the new salsa era in this beautiful country. House of great youth voices, teenagers have made millions of people dance around the world, revealing the talent that this group has managed to nurture in more than 20 years of artistic journey.

Claiming Our Space, a record production with which they went on the market in 1995 with great songs like “Hoy aprendí”, “I can’t be your friend” and “Anhelo”, six songs from this CD; occupied the first place as hits throughout Venezuela and other countries of the Latin American continent, they started a sequence of successes for more than 20 years that have made this great group distribute Salsa and flavor throughout the world, it is that even the pope John Paul II had the honor of listening to this great musical event at Jubilee 2000, which brought together two million five hundred thousand people outside the University of Bergata, an event that lasted four years to prepare for this event.

In conversations with Carlos Mendoza, manager and main helmsman, we found out about the group’s latest projects for this 2019, great things continue to happen for these young salseros.

This new year started with great things for our young salseros, during the month of March and April they will be giving rhythm in Colombia with a tour of more than 5 cities, Mendoza tells us “We will be visiting Armenia, Bogotá, Medellin among other cities of the beautiful Colombia, we take a train that does not stop, we offer a list of unforgettable concerts”.

On the 23rd they will be in Armenia at the Fonda, the local forest that has received great national and international artists, they will continue in the capital of this southern country Bogotá on the 30th in Sutton club of the best clubs in the city, they will pass through Medellin in Emporium on April 05, 06 for Cartagena and closing on 06 in Marseille, they have dates for hiring, contact that we will leave at the end of this review for your contact, in the voices of Arnaldo Quintero, Renzo Romero, Ronald Gómez, Josep Palacios and Leonardo Leal we will be able to listen to the successes of these almost three decades of rhythms.

“For the month of June we will be part of the great experience that will be lived in the Adventure Dance Cruise, together with greats like Torito Acosta” Mendoza told us that the great company Royal Caribbean presents what they call: World’s Largest Latin Dance Cruise, from June 6 to 10 from Miami passing through the beautiful island of son and rumba Cuba and arriving in the Bahamas, full of dance classes, attractions, distractions and the best concerts on the high seas.

For the last semester of the year they are already preparing a concert in Tampa, Miami, presentations of variable types in North America, to close the projects for this 2019 an important tour of Europe with the great Maelo Ruiz is being prepared, a detail that we will have better reviewed in future editions.

For bookings on the tour of Colombia, contact the number +57 310 3293158, don’t miss out on living this great experience of dancing alongside one of the best salsa orchestras in the world.

Bobby Escoto

North America / USA / California

Bobby Escoto, a percussionist, was born in East Los Angeles, from Mexican & Puerto Rican descent. Bobby Escoto III is the nephew to the great vocalist Bobby Escoto, who performed and recorded, with the great percussionist, Tito Puente. Bobby Escoto III has been playing music, since the age of eight. Today, Bobby is considered one of the most prominent percussionists in the salsa genre, here in his hometown of Los Angeles.

Bobby Escoto has performed with many salsa icons in Los Angeles, New York, Europe, and Asia. Such as Celia Cruz, La India, Jose Alberto “El Canario,”Lalo Rodriguez, Domingo Quinonez, Menique, Camilo Azuquita, Yolanda Rivera, “Fania All Star” violinist Pupi Legarreta, trombonist Jimmy Bosh, and legendary vocalist Tito Allen who performed and recorded, with the legendary ‘conguero’, Ray Barretto. Bobby also takes pride in performing and directing his band to back up Frankie Vasquez, Herman Olivera, Pupy Cantor, Jorge Maldonado, and Hector Tempo Alomar, vocalists to his favorite band, from NYC, Conjunto Libre.

Bobby Escoto is the band leader, director and bongo player to his band, Conjunto Afro Son. They have performed at prominent salsa venues, as a back-up band, to salsa icons, due to their extensive educational background, training, and authenticity. Bobby is also the band director and bongo player to The Granada All-Star Orchestra and The Salsa Divas (an all-female Orchestra) in the city of Alhambra, CA

Bobby’s goal is to increase awareness of the new generation, about the Afro Cuban and Puerto Rican music. Every Saturday you will find Bobby teaching percussion to underprivileged children in East Los Angeles. Bobby states: “it hasn’t been easy growing up in the streets of East Los Angeles, but my vision as a kid was to perform with great salsa icons.” Bobby Escoto believes that dreams do come true if you put your heart and effort into your talent. No doubt, Bobby’s talent, passion for his art, leadership, and vision have no barriers.

Phil Robinson Sonero, composer and performer bandleader

North America / USA / New York

Phil Robinson born in S. Bronx, New York, of Dominican and Puerto Rican parents, lived his early years up-bringing in the Dominican Republic, surrounded by music and close family members that sang, recited poetry and performed.

At the age of five, Phil Robinson already sang songs from well known Spaniel child, singer, ‘Joselito’ and was singing and reciting poetry in school recitals and shows, literately, showing his natural talent as a singer and performer.

Phil Robinson began his professional career in 1973, when he began his musical journey as a lead singer for Orquesta Yare, in Vineland New Jersey.

Phil Robinson relocated to Los Angeles where he was noticed for his charisma, voice range and singing style often compared with Puerto Rican salsa singer Tito Allen, as he evolved, he became lead for Henry Mora and the LA Salsa All Star Salsa Orquestra, he collaborated with many of the local groups, from there on he became lead vocals for Eric Matos and Orquesta La Caliente, Papo Rodriguez and La Sorpresa, recording two original songs composed by Nelson Montalvo title Fantasia and Mi Regalo, included in his 2005 CD, ‘Oye Salsa Sabor y Clave’.

During the time Phil Robinson was with Papo Rodriguez, Panamanian singer Camilo Azuquita, strolled into town and La Sorpresa became ‘Azuquita y su Melao’, Phil became Azuquita’s back up lead for a number of years, performing in many well-known venues such as Hollywood Palladium and with many renowned artists such as the late Celia Cruz.

In 1993 he joined Orlando Lopez Mazacote recording his first published cd project under the Fonovisa Record label Salsa Para El Mundo Entero, as the band lead vocals he performed many corporate events, concerts as LA Cinco De Mayo Festival, traveling to Ensenada Mexico, sharing stage with Willie Chirino and Andy Montañez to name a few. He also recorded it additional songs under OLM records Salsa Bravisima.

Phil Robinson paused his career for a bit and continue to collaborate with different local bands and returned to the stage with his band performing well-known places such as San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino, Oxnard Festival, Fiesta Alegre Festival, private events and LA salsa venues, Conga Room, Rumba Room, Mama Juana, El Floridita, Santa Monica Monsoons and many other popular LA Salsa Venues

Phil Robinson has shared the stage with Adalberto Santiago, Tony Vega, Herman Olivera, Yolanda Rivera, Menique, Luigi Texidor, Wichy Camacho, Cuban singer Franco, Willie Chirino, Celia Cruz, and the list goes on.

After seven years Phil Robinson completed and published his new musical project, produced by Arturo Solar “Between Two Worlds ” a project that encompasses classical compositions from Armando Manzanero, Ted Koehler / Harold Arlen, Virgilio and Homero Exposito, Enrique Benitez, Vicente Garrido Calderon, Jesus Alejandro and originals composed by Phil.

Throughout 2017 Phil Robinson has continued to perform frequently in San Manuel Casino, Granda LA, the new Rumba Room, Granada LA, Cafe Sevilla, Granada LA, Oxnard Festival and Fiestalegre Fundraiser for Puerto Rico Huracane Maria.

2018 continues to be a year of success as we see it for Phil, many surprises will arise, follow the man with a unique stage presence, charisma y mucho sabor.

Phil Robinson thank you for your continued support and may God bless you all.