This new band is a very exciting mix of cultures, sounds, colors and rhythms which generates a powerful and enlightening energy. They perform a wide variety of styles such as Afro-Brazilian, Samba and Bossa Nova, straight ahead Jazz and funky Jazz Fusion with African, World, Latin and Hip-Hop influences all together in one show!

Airto Moreira
One of the most famous and high-profile musicians in his field, Brazilian percussionist / drummer Airto Moreira helped make percussion an essential part of modern Jazz. Throughout his career he has played and recorded with highly esteemed musicians such as Chick Corea, Paul Simon, Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, George Duke, Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, Carlos Santana and many others, as well as making his musical contributions to movie sound tracks such as The Exorcist and Apocalypse Now. Airto was voted Downbeat Magazine\'s percussionist-of-the-year more than 20 times. After making his U.S. debut on the Miles Davis classic Bitches Brew, he went on to perform and record with Miles for two and a half years before becoming a founding member of both pioneering fusion groups Weather Report and Return To Forever.

Flora Purim
For those who know Jazz and Latin music, Flora Purim needs little introduction. Her astonishing voice has woven itself into the fabric of three decades of music and she has become one of its brightest luminaries. Flora\'s once-in-a-generation six-octave voice has earned her two Grammy nominations for Best Female Jazz Performance and Downbeat magazine\'s Best Female Singer accolade on four occasions. Flora went on to contribute to some of the greatest recordings of the seventies. Her musical partners have included Gil Evans, Stan Getz, Chick Corea, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, Carlos Santana, Mickey Hart and Airto Moreira, with whom she has collaborated on over 30 albums since moving with him from her native Rio de Janeiro to New York in 1967.

Krishna and D. Booker
Krishna and D. Booker are the founding members of writing, performing and production team, Eyedentity. Krishna is the son of Jazz bassist Walter Booker, godson of Herbie Hancock and nephew of Wayne Shorter while Diana Booker is Airto and Flora’s daughter. Diana’s contribution to the band consists of background and some lead vocals. Her multi-lingual singing styles are ethnically diverse and range from powerful refrains to ethereal improvisations. Krishna on percussion, also adds a unique element to the band with unusual percussive mouth sounds and rhythms called beat-boxing. A large part of the band’s new music was written and produced by them and the Eyedentity duo is featured in the show during an a-capella tribute to Jazz diva, Nina Simone. When they’re not on tour D. Booker teaches vocal ensemble workshops at LA Music Academy and Krishna performs with Brazilian artist Sergio Mendes.

José Neto
Brazilian born guitarist José Neto has developed an exciting and beautiful sound all his own, a combination of delicate emotion and blatant shredding that fits seamlessly within the concept of this group. He is a sensitive and talented composer and his original music (which he records and performs with his own band) is also featured in the show. Since the time his father introduced him to Jimi Hendrix’s music, Neto has been influenced by his unbridled creativity. Airto and Flora have been playing on and off with Neto for many years and were his introduction to the world of modern Jazz. Today Neto is the musical director for Harry Belafonte, a position he has held for over 20 years and he also writes, records and performs with a host of other artists including Steve Winwood.

Gary Brown
Bass player Gary Brown is the backbone of the band and has been playing with Airto and Flora since the mid eighties. He is a strong, talented and versatile musician able to expertly interpret a multitude of musical styles, transitioning between them with ease. Gary has an amazing knack for the unique swing of Brazilian music and executes this style better than most Brazilian born musicians. A solid groove player as well as an accomplished soloist, he is an integral component of this ensemble and adds to it a lightness of spirit, an indescribable joy which infects both his fellow musicians and audiences alike. Over the past 20 years Gary has toured extensively throughout the world where he has recorded and shared the stage not only with Flora & Airto but with several artists including Steve Winwood, Dianne Reeves, Dori Caymmi, Giovanni Hidalgo, Pete Escovido, Sheila “E”, and George Duke to name a few.

Kit Walker
Kit Walker is a relatively new addition to the band. He is keyboardist and composer best known for his fiery soloing ability, his imaginative application of unusual electronic sounds and foremost for his beautiful and passionate improvisational duets with Airto. This is the opening of the show and sets a high precedent for what’s to come. Kit has toured the world and shared stage and studio with Kitaro, Steve Smith, Neal Schon (Journey guitarist), Jai Uttal and the Pagan Love Orchestra, devotional singer Deva Premal, as well as many other prominent artists. He also has several albums of his own including his World / Jazz release “Freehouse”.

Santa Barbara International Percussion Festival (January 12-20, 2008)
The festival takes place from January 12 to 20 in different places in Santa Barbara. Featuring performances and clinics by artists like:

• Scottish percussion virtuoso Colin Currie
  
• Legendary jazz drummer Roy Haynes
  
• Grammy-award winning Cuban artist Luis Conte
  
• Japanese Taiko-Drumming Sensation San Jose Taiko
  
• Brazilian duo Flora Purim and Airto Moreira
  
• Exotic Indonesian Drumming with the UCSB Gamelan Ensemble
  
• Percussionists from the L.A. Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, and more.

»» Download the flyer of the festival, that is attached to this article.

Concert information Airto Moreira and Flora Purim
January 11, 2008 @ Temple Bar
1026 Wilshire Blvd. - Santa Monica, CA 90401
For tickets call 310 393-6611 or visit www.templebarlive.com

January 12, 2008 @ SOHO Restaurant & Music (This concert is part of the Santa Barbara International Percussion Festival)
1221 State Street, Suite 205 - Santa Barbara, CA 93101
For tickets call 805-962-7776 or visit www.sohosb.com

Line up
Airto Moreira - percussion and drums
Flora Purim - vocals
D. Booker - vocals
Krishna Booker - percussion and vocals
Gary Brown - electric bass and vocals
José Neto - electric guitar
Kit Walker - keyboards