THE ART OF RHYTHM IN COLOR

Copi, Tom (1940–2015), photographer

Airto Moreira at the Percussion — Original Color Concert Photograph, [Original Color Photograph] [Photographer's Copyright Stamp] c1980

AIRTO MOREIRA — BRAZILIAN RHYTHMS AND JAZZ FUSION.
An original colorperformance photograph of Brazilian percussionist and composer Airto Moreira (born 1941), taken by noted jazz photographer Tom Copi.

Seated among his instruments, Moreira is captured with eyes closed, one hand poised above his percussion. The intimate composition emphasizes concentration and musical expression, offering a quieter view of a performer celebrated for his rhythmic inventiveness.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: ORIGINAL CONCERT PHOTOGRAPH.
+++ Color photographic print measuring approximately 7.5 × 9.5 inches, presented in a brown window mat measuring 10.75 × 13.5 inches.
+++ The verso bears Tom Copi's San Francisco studio copyright stamp. The photograph is secured to its backing with tape around the edges.

CONDITION: FINE PHOTOGRAPH; VERY GOOD MAT.
+++ The photograph presents well, with strong contrast and no visible significant fading or surface damage. Not examined outside its mount.
+++ The mat shows light handling wear, with a small blue mark on the reverse of the backing board, not affecting the photograph. The mounting tape has yellowed with age.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: THE EXPANDING LANGUAGE OF JAZZ—BRAZILIAN PERCUSSION AND THE FUSION MOVEMENT.
Airto Moreira emerged as one of the most influential percussionists of the jazz-fusion era, introducing Brazilian rhythms and an expansive range of percussion instruments to American jazz.

His collaborations with Miles Davis, Weather Report, and Return to Forever helped define the adventurous musical landscape of the 1970s. His own recordings further established his reputation as a bandleader and innovative composer.

TOM COPI AND THE INTIMACY OF PERFORMANCE.
San Francisco-based photographer Tom Copi photographed leading figures in jazz and popular music, developing a distinctive approach to musicians absorbed in performance.

Here, Copi captures Moreira in a moment of inward concentration. The warm stage lighting and close framing draw attention to the musician's expression and hands, making the photograph an engaging portrait of the creative process.

GENRES: Original Photographs, Color Photography, Jazz Photography, Music Memorabilia, Concert Photography, Documentary Photography, Twentieth-Century Photography

SUBJECTS: Airto Moreira, Tom Copi, Brazilian Jazz, Jazz Fusion, Latin Jazz, Brazilian Percussion, Miles Davis, Weather Report, Return to Forever, Concert Photography, 1980s Music, American Photography

Item #22620

Price: $95.00