Airto Guimarães  is considered the most high-profile percussionist of all times.

Airto (often simply known by his first name) helped make percussion an essential part of many modern jazz groups; his tambourine solos can border on the amazing. In 1965 he met the singer Flora Purim in Rio de Janeiro and, in 1968, moved to the U.S. with her.
Along his long career Airto has been playing from the late  60´ with a big list of excellent colleagues:  Cannonball Adderley, Lee Morgan, Paul Desmond, Joe Zawinul, just to name a few.
Airto was part  of the storic Davis group, besides Wayne Shorter, Dave Holland, Jack De Johnette, Chick Corea and later John McLaughlin and Keith Jarrett.
Airto played with Miles Davis during part of 1969-1970, appearing on several records (most notably Live Evil).
Right after he was part of the original Weather Report line up and in 1972 was part of Chick Corea's initial version of Return to Forever with Flora Purim.
In 1974 Airto formed his first band in the U.S., “Fingers” with Flora and from there he has been playing all over the world the last 36 years.
Airto is today one of the most appreciated and busy percussinist. His collection of instruments, along with his knack for playing the right sound at the right moment, has made him the first choice of many producers and bandleaders. Remarkable is his work with Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, George Duke and Paul Simon, Carlos Santana, Gil Evans, Gato Barbieri, Michael Brecker, The Crusaders, Chicago, and many others including contributions to movie sound tracks such as The Exorcist, Last Tango in Paris, King of the Gypsies and Apocalypse Now, which represents only a small number of the musical contributions Airto has made over the last three decades.