Airto Moreira

Airto Moreira is a Brazilian drummer and percussionist who fundamentally expanded the role of percussion in jazz. After establishing himself in Brazil with groups like Quarteto Novo, he moved to the United States and became a vital architect of the jazz-fusion movement. [2, 6] His innovative approach involved creating a textural and rhythmic palette with a vast array of instruments, including many of his own creation. [1, 9, 10] Moreira’s influential work with Miles Davis on "Bitches Brew," and as a founding member of both Weather Report and Return to Forever, integrated Brazilian sounds with electric jazz, shaping a new percussive language that influenced generations of musicians. [3, 9, 14, 17]