Airto Moreira & Ricardo Bacelar feat. Flora Purim - Maracanós (2026)

Maracanós, the new collaborative album by Brazilian pianist, composer, and producer Ricardo Bacelar and legendary percussionist Airto Moreira, will be released worldwide on April 24, 2026, via Jasmin Music. The largely instrumental project features a special appearance by acclaimed vocalist Flora Purim and will be available simultaneously across major international markets, including Brazil, the United States, Portugal, France, Germany, China, and Japan.

The album is the result of a creative partnership that took shape at Jasmin Studio in Fortaleza, Brazil, where Bacelar hosted Airto Moreira on two separate occasions. During the first visit, Moreira arrived with Flora Purim, and together they recorded the single “Aqui, Oh!”—already available on streaming platforms—alongside material for a full-length album and a feature documentary currently in production. The second visit deepened the collaboration, as Bacelar and Moreira composed and recorded Maracanós, inspired by the spontaneous energy and artistic synergy captured during the documentary sessions.

For Bacelar, the project represents a moment of rare creative alignment: a process marked by freedom, experimentation, and shared musical vision. Airto Moreira, widely regarded as one of the most influential percussionists in modern jazz, described the experience as deeply inspiring, highlighting both the studio environment and the openness of the sessions, where he also incorporated his voice as an expressive element alongside his percussion work.

Adding to the album’s significance, Moreira will be honoured in April 2026 with the NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship from the U.S. National Endowment for the Arts—the highest official recognition in American jazz—acknowledging his decades-long impact on the evolution of the genre. Flora Purim, his longtime musical and life partner and a celebrated vocalist in her own right, contributes a special vocal performance on the track “Voo da Tarde.”

Musically, Maracanós stands out for its bold aesthetic and sonic experimentation. The album blends acoustic instrumentation with synthesizers, creating a richly textured soundscape that balances improvisation, harmonic complexity, and timbral exploration. Bacelar, who also produced the project, emphasizes that the album intentionally departs from commercial conventions, instead embracing originality and immersive musical storytelling rooted in the exploratory spirit long associated with Moreira and Purim.

The project also features the Kalimera String Quartet from Rio de Janeiro, appearing on two tracks with arrangements by Liduíno Pitombeira of the Brazilian Academy of Music. Their contributions enhance the album’s orchestral dimension, reinforcing its commitment to structural freedom and dynamic interplay among musicians.

A key extension of the Maracanós project is a feature-length documentary directed by filmmaker Jom Tob Azulay, now in the final stages of production and expected for release in the second half of 2026. The film documents the creative process behind the album, offering an intimate look at the enduring artistry, spontaneity, and collaborative chemistry of Moreira and Purim.

Airto Moreira’s legacy forms an essential backdrop to the project. Since relocating to the United States in the 1960s, he has performed with an extraordinary roster of jazz legends, including Miles Davis, Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter, Joe Zawinul, and many others. His career reflects a lifelong commitment to creative openness and intuitive expression—qualities that remain central to Maracanós.

The album’s visual identity further underscores its conceptual depth. The cover artwork, created by Brazilian artist Fernando França, symbolizes the cultural fusion between Brazil and Africa, echoing the album’s musical dialogue across traditions and influences.

Released by Jasmin Music—Bacelar’s own label known for its collaborations with leading figures in Brazilian music—Maracanós emerges as a distinctive and adventurous work, celebrating artistic freedom, cross-cultural exchange, and the enduring vitality of contemporary jazz.

Tracklist
01. Pé no Chão
02. Mestre Novo da Guiné
03. Bumbo Meu Boi
04. Voo da Tarde
05. Maracanós
06. Submersivos
07. 3 Minutos de Paz
08. Pau Rolou