““Brazilian percussion genius.””
“There might not be a better match in the forward-thinking, hard-to-pin-down Ropeadope catalog than the Brazilian-born percussionist and composer Cyro Baptista.”
Cyro Baptista…
Composer, Percussion, Vocals;
Cyro Baptista is a Brazilian born percussionist and composer whose vast talent and penchant for innovation brought him to be praised as one of the most respected musicians in the world.
Cyro’s endless sonic curiosity and intense rhythmic led him to create several musical ensembles and record many albums of his own. He has also lent his sounds to several GRAMMY award-winning records and to over 300 CDs with many of the most beloved musicians in the world.
Cyro’s credits read like a "Who’s Who" of modern music. His talent and versatility have led to associations with a wide range of leading jazz, rock, pop, classical, avant-garde and Brazilian artists. From Paul Simon to Yo-Yo-Ma, Herbie Hancock to Kathleen Battle, Trey Anastasio( from Phish) to John Zorn, Wynton Marsalis to Laurie Anderson, from the legendary Brazilians Milton Nascimento and Caetano Veloso to Sting – they all wanted Cyro’s magic touch on their recordings or live performances.
Baptista leads four different ensembles with ten released albums under his name. He tours continuously throughout the world with them. He conducts master classes at major musical institutions, such as Juilliard School, Berklee College of Music, New York University, Mannes College of Music, The New School, Holy Cross University, New World Symphony Orchestra, University of Vermont, University of Buffalo, Kimmel Center Jazz Camp, and K-12 schools across the country.
Baptista has a great interest in education and sharing his knowledge and experiences, especially to underserved factions of society through his “Sound of Community” initiative.
Danger Zone - Music Video
Who is Cyro Baptista?
GlossoLaliA
With percussionist/vocalist Cyro Baptista, guitarist John Lee, accordionist Felipe Hostins, bassist Eduardo Belo and drummer Gil Oliveira.
Cyro’s newest ensemble called GLOSSO LALIA - a reference to “speaking in tongues”, which, in Baptista’s view means “speaking the universal language of music” .
DUOS - “These are the SOngs”
Cyro Baptista teams up with the astonishing and passionate pianist Brian Marsella with a new program of composed pieces for percussion, piano and a lot more!
“The classically trained Marsella displayed dizzying technique while imbuing pieces with an authentic soul-jazz feeling”
-Bill Milkowski
“Cyro Baptista/Brian Marsella, like two brothers in a transcontinental cartoon, united by childlike joy. “These are The Songs” blend burlesque, Hollywood, funk and the puns of Fats Waller. It evokes their Zornian past and Satie. Melodica, berimbau, piano, pipes, drums, washboard, pans, makeshift organ. Naïve, this music? Yes, because it has the power of playing. It’s Da, it’s Dada, it’s damage free”
POINTBREAK, France
Vira Loucos
The beloved Brazilian percussionist reinterprets the music of Brazil's most celebrated classical composer, Heitor Villa-Lobos. For this special program, which translates to "Villa-Lobos Gone Crazy," Baptista leads a thrilling, six-member mixed ensemble, in an irreverent fantasia, at times reconstructing some of Villa-Lobos's most famous works with the rural Brazilian folk melodies that inspired them.
Featuring pianist Brian Marsella, bassist Shanir Blumenkranz, guitarist John Lee, accordionist Felipe Hostins, and drummer Gil Oliveira.
"Simply ingenious... undeniable...provocative, powerful and deeply enjoyable"
-All Music Guide
Banquet of the Spirits
Over the past few decades, this superstar percussionist has performed, toured, and recorded Grammy Award-winning albums with an enormous range of musicians, including the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, Yo-Yo Ma, Paul Simon, Phish, John Zorn, Milton Nascimento, Kathleen Battle, James Taylor, and dozens more. For tonight’s 9:30pm set, his group will perform original music and compositions by Don Cherry and John Zorn, as heard on Baptista’s acclaimed Banquet of the Spirits album.
Featuring Percussionist, vocalist and leader Cyro Baptista, pianist Brian Marsella, bassist Shanir Blumenkranz and drummer Tim Keiper.
"You feel like you're listening to a captivating travelogue, as told by a group of nomads who are at home everywhere." -NPR Music
Beat the donkey
Cyro leads this 10-piece ensemble on a maddening ride through myriad musical worlds! Multicultural, polyphonic, creative, and above all entertaining, Beat The Donkey take rhythms beyond their normal frontiers with a dash of fun and spontaneity. Everything from refrigerators and vacuum cleaner hoses to cowbells and Balinese gongs! Guests include Marc Ribot, John Zorn, and many more.
"A joyous, carnival-like treat."
-All About Jazz
