Bruce Von Stiers
Flora Purim has released several albums of her own and collaborated on over 30 others. Her vocal talents have been partnered with such Jazz greats as Dizzy Gillespie, Chick Corea and Stan Getz. Now Flora has a brand new album coming out. This album is Speak No Evil and is being released on the Narada Jazz label.
This new album features percussionist Airto Moriera, who has collaborated with Flora for a long time and who is also her husband.
There are 10 songs on the album, ranging from tunes from Gershwin to Cole Porter and Wayne Shorter. The album lasts over 50 minutes.
This Magic is the first song on the album. It has a lot of nice flute in the background as Flora sings of “this magic you posses can be dangerous and strong.” She is wondering what it takes to make this man she’s enamored with her own. The song also has some real good percussion in the middle of it.
You Go To My Head is the second song on the album. It has a good bass and drum backbeat as Flora sings this old classic.
The third song is the title cut, Speak No Evil. It has a strong drum and sax intro. It has bits in it that make you think of twirling skirts and others that are kind of bebop. Next up is the Cole Porter classic, I’ve Got You Under My Skin.
The fifth song has a quick beat to it. The title of this song is Tamanco no Samba. It has some really great piano in it that complements Flora’s vocals. Then there is the old classic Don’t Say A Word. It is a song reminiscent of old movies and classic jazz vocalists.
It Ain’t Necessarily So, the Gershwin classic, gets a nice treatment here. The musicians on this song do a real good job providing background for Flora’s vocals.
The other songs on the album are I Feel You, Primeira Estrela and Moon Dreams.
In order to enjoy Speak No Evil, you will have to like two things. You will have to like jazz classics and you will have to like jazz vocalists. Because this is what the album is all about, classic songs by one of the premiere Jazz vocalists of the last 30 years. Since the early ‘70’s Flora Purim has been thrilling audiences with the wonderful vocal talents. This new album show that Flora is still going strong and can still wow you with her songs.
Look for Speaks No Evil in stores at the end of January 2003.
For additional information, visit the Narada Jazz web site at www.naradajazz.com or Flora’s web site at www.florapurim.com.
© 2003 Bruce E Von Stiers