Cyro Baptista

2011 - Caym: The Book of Angels
2009 - Infinito
2008 - Banquet of the Spirits
2005 - Love the Donkey
2002 - Beat the Donkey
2000 - Supergenerous
1997 - Villa-Lobos/Vira-Loucos

A Cyro Baptista & Beat the Donkey concert is a madcap blend of Blue Man Group, Kodo, and Os Mutantes. The mad scientist behind the chaos is Baptista himself, channeling the spirit of Frank Zappa; comparing his band, Beat the Donkey, with the Mothers of Invention is quite appropriate.

The Brazilian-born Baptista takes his primary influences from his native land but hardly stops there. His music is percussion bassed with heavy acid jazz and psychedelic rock influences. If hitting it makes a noise, Baptista uses it to make music. He employs percussion and other instruments from Brazil, U.S., Indonesia and Africa along with instruments of his own creation.

His Website lists the following artists with whom he has performed and recorded: David Byrne, Kathleen Battle, Gato Barbieri, Dr. John, Brian Eno, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Robert Palmer, Melissa Etheridge, Laurie Anderson, John Zorn, James Taylor, Carly Simon, Michael Tilson Thomas, Daniel Barenboin, Bobby McFerrin, Wynton Marsalis, Yo-Yo-Ma, Medeski Martin Wood, Spyro Gyra, Trey Anastasio from Phish, Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, Santana, Sting, Milton Nascimento, Caetano Veloso, Ivan Lins, Marisa Monte, and Nana Vasconcelos. Clearly, Baptista will make music with almost anyone and his pure love of music shows through in all that he does.

If you ever have a chance to see his live you show you have to. It is a great experience. The CDs are good but cannot hope to capture the visual energy of the performance. The comaprisons to Blue Man Group are apt here because Baptista and his ensemble cast explore the many ways that music can also be a visual experience.