Airto Touching You, Touching Me

Many of Airto Moreira's records from the late 1970s and early '80s get an undeserved bad rap because of their obvious -- and intended -- commercial appeal. Though he came to prominence in America as a member of Miles Davis' early electric bands, Moreira was an established artist in Brazil; one who sought to marry the sounds of his nation's folk traditions with all kinds of popular music. 1979's Touching You...Touching Me was recorded during his Warner period, and is perhaps his most polished record. Self-produced, he learned much of the technique he employed from the best-selling recordings of the time in all pop genres. A large cast is involved here -- George Duke, Flora Purim, Joe Farrell, Herb Alpert, Alphonso Johnson, Peter Bunetta, Al Ciner, Bayete (Todd Cochrane), and Marcos Valle (who not only performed but helped Moreira with the charts). The sprightly, dancefloor-jazzy R&B of "Amajour" (with the Sweet Inspirations on backing vocals) opens the set, followed by the more MPB-