04/24 - Saturday :: Cyro Baptista’s Banquet of the Spirits

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Since arriving in the U.S. in 1980 from his native country Brazil, Cyro Baptista has 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.

Banquet of the Spirits features the tight new quartet led by maestro Cyro Baptista—the percussionist who has performed with everyone from Herbie Hancock and Yo-Yo Ma to Laurie Anderson, Paul Simon and, Medeski Martin and Wood. Cyro’s endless sonic curiosity and intense rhythmic drive has never been stronger in these imaginative original songs. Featuring three of the best young musicians out of the downtown scene and some very special guests, the music jumps from a whisper to a scream and never misses a beat.

The quartet embodies the philosophy of Anthropofagia, a Brazilian cultural movement from the 1920's. The band, is a musical manifestation of the process of eating, swallowing, and digesting all the tendencies that are part of the sonic landscape and our environment. The music is the product of all sounds that they have collectively consumed over the years; some of them they've digested and others they have rejected. After that, it has been difficult to identify what belongs to what country, culture, or religion.

Web Site: Mr. Spoons

Mr. Spoons has been entertaining people with his mastery of musical cutlery for over 70 years! At almost 80, he hasn't slowed down much.

Let yourself be carried away to another time by the outstanding talent of Mr. Spoons. Mr. Spoons shares his life-long love of spoon playing with his audience. He's played venues from Madison Square Garden to Mt. St. Mary College.