Ricardo Bacelar and Airto Moreira unveil new single “Mestre Novo da Guiné”
The track is released on March 27, ahead of the upcoming album Maracanós
The new single “Mestre Novo da Guiné” will be available on all digital platforms on March 27, marking the first release from the collaborative project between legendary percussionist Airto Moreira and pianist, composer, and producer Ricardo Bacelar. The track is part of the forthcoming album Maracanós, scheduled for release in April across Brazil, the United States, Portugal, France, Germany, China, and Japan via Jasmin Music.
This collaboration was born during Airto Moreira’s artistic residency at Jasmin Studio in Fortaleza, where he reunited with longtime partner Flora Purim. During this period, the artists recorded new material, including the single “Aqui, Oh!”, an unreleased album, and a feature-length documentary currently in production. Maracanós, an instrumental album featuring original compositions by Bacelar and Moreira, emerged organically from these creative sessions.
“We recorded right in the middle of the creative process. Ricardo knows exactly what he’s doing. Jasmin Studio is wonderful; it has everything we need to make a first-class recording,” says Airto Moreira, who will be honored in April with the NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship, the highest official recognition in jazz awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts.
For Ricardo Bacelar, collaborating with one of the most influential percussionists in modern music represents both artistic maturity and creative freedom. “We spent a week playing together every day, developing ideas collectively. The album has an immersive character, with longer tracks and melodic explorations that move away from today’s commercial standards,” he explains.
Having built a career spanning more than six decades, Airto Moreira has worked with some of the greatest names in jazz history, including Miles Davis, Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter, and Herbie Hancock. His approach to music remains rooted in instinct and openness. “You have to trust your musical instincts to create freely. I’ve always followed mine,” he says.
“Mestre Novo da Guiné” stands out as the only track on the album featuring lyrics, written by Luis Lima Verde and performed by Ricardo Bacelar. The song tells the story of a leader chosen to represent Afro-Brazilian culture, guided by ancestral heritage. The release is accompanied by a music video directed by Gabriel Lage, developed through extensive research into Afro-Brazilian traditions and aesthetics.
The visual identity of the project is further reinforced by artwork created by Brazilian artist Fernando França, whose paintings for both the single and album reflect a symbolic fusion between Brazil and Africa.
At 84, Airto Moreira continues to create with remarkable clarity and humility. “We don’t own the music, we play it. It’s about creativity and leaving the ego aside. I felt truly inspired,” he reflects.
With Maracanós, Ricardo Bacelar opens a new chapter that bridges music, cinema, and historical documentation, strengthening the dialogue between generations and reaffirming the global relevance of Brazilian instrumental music.
Both the single and the album are released through Jasmin Music, the label founded by Bacelar, which has built a catalog of collaborations with major Brazilian artists including Gilberto Gil, Flora Purim, and Roberto Menescal.
Single credits
“Mestre Novo da Guiné” (Airto Moreira / Ricardo Bacelar / Luis Lima Verde)
Airto Moreira – percussion
Ricardo Bacelar – vocals, acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes, Hammond organ, percussion, keyboards, electric guitar, samples, 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
Christophe SOUSA