Flora Purim › Carry On

Personnel includes: Flora Purim, Al Jarreau (vocals); Joe Farrell (soprano saxophone, flute); George Duke, Ronnie Foster; Bobby Lyle (keyboards); Michael Sembello (guitar); Leon "Ndugu" Chancler (drums); Airto Moreira, Sheila Escovedo (percussion).

Personnel: Flora Purim (vocals); George Duke (vocals, piano, Fender Rhodes piano, keyboards, synthesizer, ARP synthesizer, Moog synthesizer, Oberheim synthesizer); Al Jarreau (vocals); Michael Sembello (guitar, acoustic guitar); David Myles (guitar, electric guitar); David Amaro (electric guitar, bagpipe); Larry Williams (flute, piccolo, alto saxophone); Joe Farrell (flute, soprano saxophone); Greg Phillinganes (melodica, synthesizer); Jerry Hey (trumpet); Gary Buho Gazaway (flugelhorn); Raul de Souza, William Frank "Bill" Reichenbach Jr. (trombone); Bobby Lyle (piano, keyboards, synthesizer); Hugo Fattoruso (keyboards, synthesizer); Ronnie Foster (keyboards); Fred Fleck (drums, talking drum); Airto Moreira (drums, cowbells, shaker, tambourine, triangle, wood block, percussion); Leon "Ndugu" Chancler (drums, hi-hat); Ricky Lawson (drums); Michael Azevedo, Laudir DeOliveira (congas); Sheila Escovedo (timbales, wood block, percussion); Sheila E. (timbales); Josie James, Lynn Davis (background vocals).

Liner Note Author: Garth Cartwright.

Photographer: Elliot Gilbert.

Arrangers: Flora Purim; George Duke.

In 1979, jazz was no longer George Duke's primary focus; his albums were emphasizing soul/funk, and many of the R&B fans who knew him for late '70s hits, like "Dukey Stick," "I Want You for Myself," and "Reach for It," knew little or nothing about his work with Cannonball Adderley, Billy Cobham, or Jean-Luc Ponty. But Duke was still producing some jazz albums here and there, although they weren't necessarily straight ahead. Even though Flora Purim's Carry On, which Duke produced, is primarily a Brazilian jazz album, it isn't for jazz purists -- rather, Purim provides an eclectic blend of jazz, samba, R&B/funk, rock and pop. Purim has many inspired moments on this LP and is joined by members of Duke's late '70s band -- bassist Byron Miller, drummers Ricky Lawson and Leon "Ndugu" Chancler, percussionist Sheila Escovedo (who became Sheila E after joining forces with Prince in 1984), keyboardist Bobby Lyle, trumpeter Jerry Hey, and saxman Joe Farrell. In addition to excelling on Duke's funky title song, Gilberto Gil's "Sarara," and Toninho Horta's "Beijo Partido," Purim really lets loose on Milton Nascimento's "From the Lonely Afternoon." Those who associate "From the Lonely Afternoon" with Wayne Shorter's superb Native Dancer album will find Purim's interpretation to be faster and more intense. ~ Alex Henderson

Genre:

• Jazz

Music Categories:

• Jazz Instrument: Brazilian