“Mestre Novo da Guiné” arrives on March 27 and previews “Maracanós,” an international release by Jasmin Music label due in April.
At 84, with over six decades of celebrated work behind him, Airto Moreira proves once again why he remains essential to world music. Partnering with pianist, composer and producer Ricardo Bacelar, the legendary percussionist releases the new single “Mestre Novo da Guiné” on March 27 across all digital platforms. The track is the first taste of the album “Maracanós”, scheduled for April via the Jasmin Music label, with simultaneous releases in Brazil, the United States, Portugal, France, Germany, China and Japan.
A Partnership Born in the Studio
The collaboration began during Airto Moreira’s artistic residency at Jasmin Studio in Fortaleza, Brazil. Alongside singer Flora Purim — his musical and life partner for over six decades — Airto recorded the single “Aqui, ó” (already available on streaming platforms), an unreleased album and a feature-length documentary currently in post-production. It was during that creative surge that “Maracanós” took shape: a largely instrumental record built on original compositions by both artists.
“We recorded in the middle of the creative process. Ricardo knows what he’s doing. The Jasmin Studio is wonderful — it has everything you need to make a first-class recording. And we worked together, which was very important,” says Airto Moreira.
We spent a week playing together every day, developing the themes. He sings on two tracks, I sing on one. The album has a very immersive quality — I wanted the freedom to make a record with long tracks and melodic reflections, far from the commercial model dominating today’s music industry.
— Ricardo Bacelar
The Single and Its Afro-Brazilian Universe
“Mestre Novo da Guiné” is the only lyric-driven track on the album. The words were written by Luiz Lima Verde, with Ricardo Bacelar on lead vocals. The song follows the journey of a spiritual leader chosen by his ancestors to carry the legacy of Afro-Brazilian culture. That same theme inspired the artwork for both the single and the album, painted by visual artist Fernando França — originally from the state of Acre — specifically for the project, blending Brazilian and African imagery.
The music video was directed by Gabriel Lage, grounded in extensive research into Afro-Brazilian traditions, weaving visual and musical storytelling into a single experience.
A Life Among Jazz Giants
Widely regarded as the father of contemporary percussion, Airto Moreira moved to the United States in the 1960s and went on to play alongside some of the greatest names in jazz: Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette, Chick Corea, John McLaughlin, Keith Jarrett, Santana, Joe Zawinul, Jaco Pastorius, Al di Meola, Stan Getz and George Benson, among many others. This April, he will be honored with the NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts — the highest official recognition for jazz in the United States.
“The fact that I played with those giants is a sign that I’ve always been open to creativity. You have to trust your musical instincts to create, without getting in anyone’s way or your own. I’ve trusted mine since I was a child,” Airto reflects.
For Ricardo Bacelar, working with Airto opened a new creative chapter connecting music, cinema and cultural documentation — deepening the dialogue between generations and reinforcing the power of Brazilian instrumental music on the world stage. Through Jasmin Music, Bacelar has collaborated with artists including Flávio Venturini, Leila Pinheiro, Toninho Horta, Roberto Menescal, Fagner, Flora Purim, Jaques Morelenbaum, Ednardo, Amelinha, Delia Fischer and Gilberto Gil.
You can’t own the music — you have to play it. It’s about creativity, about setting your ego aside. I’m very happy all of this happened. I felt truly inspired.
— Airto Moreira
Event Info
- Single “Mestre Novo da Guiné” — available from March 27, 2026 on all digital platforms
- Listen: https://ffm.to/mestreguine
- Music video: https://youtu.be/KieXbKU9IcA
- Album “Maracanós” — releasing April 2026 in Brazil, USA, Portugal, France, Germany, China and Japan
- Label: Jasmin Music
- Songwriting credits: Airto Moreira, Ricardo Bacelar and Luiz Lima Verde
- Musicians: Airto Moreira (percussion), Ricardo Bacelar (vocals, acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes, Hammond organ, percussion, keyboards, electric guitar, samples and modular synthesizers), Hoto Júnior (percussion), Nélio Costa (electric bass), Pantico Rocha (drums), Márcio Resende (tenor and soprano saxophone), Stênio Gonçalves (electric guitar), Maria Bacelar (vocals), Sara Bacelar (vocal arrangement and vocals), Eliel Ferreira (vocals)
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