Cyro Baptista Opens 2016-17 Public Events Series
In the season opener of Grinnell College's Public Event Concert Series, on Friday, Sept. 9, Brazilian percussionist and composer Cyro Baptista will lead a winsome world-jazz quartet (Banquet of the Spirits) in a virtuosic romp through myriad musical styles.
These styles range from washed out surf rock splashes to blazing hardbop solos, all laced with exquisite Afro-Brazilian rhythms and a carnivalesque sense of joyous irreverence.
The concert will start at 7:30 p.m. in Herrick Chapel, 1128 Park St., Grinnell.
A veteran of stage and studio work with Paul Simon, Grinnell College alumnus Herbie Hancock, John Zorn, Yo-Yo Ma, Laurie Anderson, Cassandra Wilson, Sting and many others, Baptista is widely considered one of the premiere percussionists on the planet.
Described by All About Jazz as "a must-listen," and as "a diversity of sounds and colors that can't be found anywhere else," Banquet of the Spirits embodies the Brazilian philosophy of anthropofagia, or cultural cannibalism — a term coined by Brazilian modernist poet Oswald de Andrade.
The quartet is made up of:
- Baptista, percussion and vocals,
- Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz, bass, oud and gimbri
- Tim Keiper, drums and kamel ngoni, and
- Brian Marsella, — piano and keyboards
The quartet draws freely on sounds from around the globe to create unique, unapologetic music that remains refreshingly fun, forward thinking and totally accessible.
Cyro Baptista's Banquet of the Spirits has played major engagements at such venues as the Newport Jazz Fest, the Andy Warhol Museum, the Wexner Center, the Village Vanguard, Town Hall NYC, SFJAZZ, Salle Pleyel in Paris, the Bimhuis in Amsterdam, SESC Pompeia in São Paulo, the Adelaide Festival in Australia and many more. The group has released three albums on Tzadik, each hailed by critics for their infectious grooves and sheer elemental beauty, most recently receiving a five-out-of-five star rating from All About Jazz.
Although the Sept. 9 concert is free and open to the public, tickets are required for admission. They will be available starting Wednesday, Sept. 7, in the box office in the Bucksbaum Center for the Arts, 1108 Park St., Grinnell.
Grinnell welcomes and encourages the participation of people with disabilities. Herrick Chapel is accessible via the north door. You can request accommodation from Conference Operations and Events, 641-269-3235.