“If You Will” is a family affair, recorded mainly in Curitiba and São Paulo. The recordings bring together many of Flora’s closest circle of musicians, including Airto Moreira, guitarist José Neto and her daughter Diana Purim on vocals.
The album features new compositions as well as reworkings of Flora’s personal favourite songs and uplifting lyrics from her eventful career. The title track “If You Will” recalls her inspirational work with George Duke, the indestructible “This Is Me” updates the Airto-Jam-Band song “I Don’t Wanna Be Myself Again” and “500 Miles High” recalls the heyday of the late Chick Corea’s I Band.
The new version of “500 Miles High” was added to the album at the last minute to commemorate Chick Corea, who passed away in February 2021. The news of Chick’s passing was very painful for Flora, and this great new version is a personal tribute to his enormous talent and the history they made together. Featuring Airto Moreira on drums, Davi Sartori on electric piano, Thiago Duarte on bass and Endrigo Bettega on drums.
The album is the latest chapter in Flora’s long, illustrious and varied career. In addition to her widely acclaimed partnership with Airto and her beginnings with Quarteto Novo, Flora has collaborated with Stan Getz, Gil Evans, Miriam Makeba, George Duke, Chick Corea (as an original member of Return To Forever), Dizzy Gillespie’s United Nation Orchestra, the Uruguayan band Opa and many others. Her solo albums on Milestone are classics of jazz fusion.
Photo: Mel Gabardo
