Airto Moreira is a world-renowned jazz drummer and percussionist from Brazil, who exhibited great talent at a young age.
In his twenties, he traveled to the U.S.A. in pursuit of Flora Purim, the woman with whom he had fallen in love, who had left Brazil to sing Bossa Nova with saxophonist Stan Getz. Over the years, Airto became a major musical figure by bringing his Brazilian percussion to American jazz. His credits range from records, performances, and compositions with Miles Davis, Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter, and numerous other notable artists to recording his own solo records.
Fifty years after coming to the U.S., dealing with a number of personal challenges, Airto was depressed.
Preservation Hall was created in 1961 in the French Quarter of New Orleans as a venue where traditional New Orleans jazz musicians, who were struggling to keep their music alive, could play. Over the years, Preservation Hall became a revered part of New Orleans culture, where a group of venerable talented New Orleans musicians were able to continue to perform.
The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, founded by tuba player Allan Jaffe, began touring widely and attained a high level of recognition. The Preservation Hall Jazz Band was awarded the National Medal of Arts, with this citation: "With enormous talent and pride, this ageless ensemble has toured the world displaying the unbreakable spirit of New Orleans and sharing the joy of New Orleans jazz with us all."
Filmmaker and jazz enthusiast Dale Djerassi attended four nights of performances by the Preservation Hall Jazz Band at SF Jazz Center, the premier venue for jazz in San Francisco. Each night, a different musical guest would perform with the band.
On the last night, Dale approached Ben Jaffe, creative director, as well as tuba and bass player in the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, to ask if they had ever considered playing with Airto Moreira as their guest. Ben was excited by the idea and invited Airto to come to New Orleans for Mardi Gras, along with his accomplished daughter and jazz singer Diana Purim, and her husband, hip hop artist, and bandmate Krishna Booker, who perform together as Diana Purim and Eyedentity.
In the film Dale Djerassi documents how these powerful forces in the world of jazz come together to create a once in a lifetime event - following them from their first meeting at Congo Square on Mardi Gras morning to their arranging, rehearsing, and performing at the legendary Preservation Hall the next night. Taking the viewer behind the scenes, Dale Djerassi navigates the musical alchemy of this meeting and watches how music reignites Airto’s passion to perform.
This magical Mardi Gras musical meeting has led to the announcement of a new Diana Purim & Eyedentity album on the Ropeadope label, entitled Pais Da Maravilha (Wonderland). The duo, consists of hip-hop artist Krishna Booker and Brazilian singer Diana Purim Moreira. With the new album, they strive for the Brazilianization of American music and the Americanization of Brazilian music, tapping into modern, urban, as well as traditional and cultural elements. This calculated integration of dualities is a deliberate movement toward a more unified understanding of one another, of nature, of humanity and of a grander universal scheme. Pais Da Maravilha (Wonderland) is due out November 12 and features a single with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band!
The duo Diana Purim and Eyedentity will perform at the view of the UNAFF showing of documentary Resurrection! Airto Moreira and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.
This is music as medicine for the soul!
This film will be viewed at the 24th UNAFF (United Nations Association Film Festival) on Oct. 23rd at 5:30 PM. This year the 24th UNAFF will be held from October 21-31, 2021. This year’s theme MOVING FORWARD continues our two decade-long celebration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, emphasizing our readiness to resume resolute strides towards lasting solutions.
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