Cyro Baptista
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Born December 23, 1950 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Cyro Baptista arrived in the U.S. in 1980 with a scholarship to the Woodstock-based Creative Music Studio, and has since emerged as one of the premier percussionists in the country. Coinciding with the rise in the public’s interest of world music, Cyro has managed to record and tour with some of music’s most popular names. His mastery of Brazilian percussion and the many instruments he creates himself, have catapulted him into world renown.
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[edit] Recordings with Other Artists
Recently recording with pianist Herbie Hancock on his 2005 release, Possibilites, Cyro’s credits read like a 'Who’s Who' of modern music. In 2002 Cyro toured with Yo-Yo Ma’s Brazil Project (as well as appeared on the Obrigado Brazil album - winner of two Grammy awards), Trey Anastasio (of Phish), and John Zorn. He recorded and performed worldwide with Herbie Hancock’s Grammy award winning Gershwin’s World. Cyro collaborated with Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra for a Brazilian Carnival modern jazz concert. For over two years, he toured with Paul Simon’s Rhythm of the Saints tour and appears on his Concert in Central Park release. In addition, Cyro toured the globe with Sting in 2001.
Performing his unique blend of percussion with some of music’s most popular artists has given Cyro remarkable credibility within the industry. The wide range of artists Cyro Baptista has performed and recorded with include: David Byrne, Derek Bailey, Kathleen Battle, Gato Barbieri, Dr. John, Brian Eno, Robert Palmer, Melissa Etheridge, Laurie Anderson, John Zorn, James Taylor, Michael Tilson Thomas, Daniel Barenboim, Bobby McFerrin, Wynton Marsalis, Yo-Yo Ma, Medeski Martin & Wood, Spyro Gyra, Trey Anastasio, Carlos Santana, Tim Sparks, Sting, Stephen Kent and John Zorn, yet the list goes on. He has also played with many respected Brazilian artists such as Milton Nascimento, Caetano Veloso, Ivan Lins, Marisa Monte, Badi Assad, and Nana Vasconcelos.
Cyro has performed on five Grammy award winning albums: Yo-Yo Ma’s Obrigado Brazil, Cassandra Wilson’s Blue Light ‘Til Dawn, The Chieftains’ Santiago, Ivan Lins’ A Love Affair, and Herbie Hancock’s highly-acclaimed Gershwin’s World. A documentary on Cyro’s main project, Beat the Donkey, was recorded for the prestigious WGBH-TV Boston program ‘La Plaza’ won 3 New England EMMY Awards in 2002, and continues to air on PBS stations nationwide.
Cyro has also been composing music for programs on the children's television network Nickelodeon.
[edit] Beat the Donkey
Continuing the momentum, he created his own project: the percussion and dance ensemble known as Beat the Donkey. The group recently released its second CD, Love the Donkey, independently on John Zorn 's Tzadik record label, featuring the percussion-heavy beats and Brazilian rhythms. Beat the Donkey now tours the U.S., expanding into new markets taking the stage at performing arts centers, festivals, and conferences.
Cyro's debut self-titled CD with Beat the Donkey, (Tzadik) was picked by The New York Times as one of the ten best alternative albums of 2002. Readers of JAZZIZ and DRUM magazine voted it as “Best Brazilian CD of the Year” and named Cyro “Best Percussionist of 2002.” Downbeat Magazine’s 51st annual critics’ poll selected Cyro as ‘Rising Star’ in percussion.
[edit] Other Solo Releases
Cyro’s first solo recording, Villa Lobos/Vira Loucos, a heady mix of his own compositions with the work of the brilliant Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos, has been acclaimed as “the most courageous, bright, funny, dramatic, and imaginative work in recent memory.”
Blue Note Records released Supergenerous, a duo CD recorded with guitarist Kevin Breit (KD Lang, Cassandra Wilson). Billboard called Supergenerous “pure aural pleasure” and the Washington Post noted it “a marvelous debut that manages to feel outside and intimate at the same time.”
[edit] Rhythm Workshops
Cyro conducts educational 'rhythm workshops' in a variety of formats. He has provided presentations for a wide range of audiences, from elementary school children to professional musicians. His workshops are tailored to suit each audience, and the result is a full educational, entertaining, and unforgettable experience encompassing various performance arts and cultural education.
His varied cultural influences, coupled with the musical influences of his native Brazil, all blend to provide a true world music experience. The high level of professionalism that Cyro brings to his workshops provides a first hand look at true artistry. Cyro has been teaching workshops and masterclasses for the past 12 years. His unique approach of using his body, spare parts of kitchenware, and anything that's out of the ordinary, as well as traditional instruments, makes his workshops a most unique and entertaining experience.
He has conducted workshops and master classes at numerous institutions throughout the world. These include Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA), The New School for Social Research (New York City), Drummer's Collective (New York City), Mannes College of Music (New York City), New World Symphony (Miami, FL) and Rimon School of Music (Tel-Aviv, Israel). He also presents workshops on music and dance at events with class cirricula, such as the Starwood Festival[1]. He conducted a rhythm workshop for 200 people at the 1997 WOMAD Festival in the Canary Islands. Participants do not need to have previous percussion/drumming experience, or even be a musician to enjoy and benefit from Cyro's workshops.
