Cyro Baptista’s “Beat the donkey” can be best described as a delightful audiovisual smorgasbord of all forms of sounds and grooves that you can possibly fit in within an hour’s time. It had everything to capture the hard-to-get interest of tiny tots (a trait shared by many adults these days ) .
Cyro Baptista
The eight member strong team, dressed in wild colors and costumes (one was wearing a chicken head and Cyro made a dramatic entry in a magician’s cape) moved between various nameless instruments on stage performing a different something every time. The background color of the stage kept changing to all bright colors ( like a willowish green or an organza pink or a fiery ochre) and added that extra element to captivate the kids.
As for the program itself, there was a bit of everything! Cyro started out with a loud vigorous beating and his band members picked up and produced some really creative percussion sequences. There were Kodo style drums, an Indonesian dance with Gamelan music (the girl who did this was so graceful and beautiful!), a delightful tap dance, a lovely Brazilian song ( by a team member who belted out really well), some amazing rock style keyboard playing (this guy is good!), some cool guitar action and of course the numerous instruments made from gigantic Coca-cola caps to leftover PVC pipes and recycled gas pipes .
Given that it takes so much to get our interest these days (nothing short of a 4D show), the performance might be considered “i would rather be taking an afternoon nap than listening to this loud what-do-you-call-it” by many adults. But it was a family performance, people! And the many kids jumping around and doing goofy moves in the well between the stage and the audience were obviously enjoying every moment.
It was so good to see an older kid show his moves to a toddler (who must have just started walking and was wobbling his baby arms around with one of the loveliest smiles on his face) and I think that’s what Cyro’s band was aiming for!
Friends, Oh-I-am-only-halfway through-this-semester-and so-still-stressed-out students and fellow musiclovers,
It’s a rarity that you get to become a kid again at a musical performance. This weekend, Cyro Baptista, the truely innovative percussionist will be performing at the Power Center with his eight member strong band. Cyro Baptista was here last month as a part of “the Luciana Souza trio” and he was amazing. He is like this mad scientist with such a passion for percussion and he oozes such positive energy and enthusiasm that you have to love him for that! His sense of humor and tendency to make jokes with his percussion too make him such a popular figure with kids and adults alike! But he is also known for his serious Brazilian Beats in the music field.
Cyro Baptista's "Beat the Donkey"
Titled “Beat the Donkey” from the Portuguese “Pau Na Mula” which means “Let’s go! Let’s do it”, Cyro’s show is a wild, imaginative and extremely entertaining one with a combination of all types of rhythm and sounds that you could possibly hear. In this show, the musicians adorn funky costumes and do everything including impromtu dances to make sure that you don’t sit ramrod straight with passive looks on your faces!
Show times:
Saturday, March 13, 1 pm & 4 pm
Power Center
Tickets ($16) are available at the Michigan League Ticket Office or at the Box Office before the show.
Come, join this fun foot-tapping riot! It’s your time to be a kid again.
Same time, last week, I was awaiting with bated breath to hear some Latin Jazz. And why did it take so long for me to post, well.. where do I start! It has been one of those weeks when you never know what you are doing, why you are doing it but you know that you have to keep doing it as your life depends on it- aka exam week! Also, there were three unique performances ( Luciana Souza, Schubert Piano trios and Bela Fleck) in store that week and my musical senses along with my academic were totally overwhelmed. So anyway, here goes….
It started with a very Latin-jazzy tune with Luciana Souza crooning away to the lovely harmonising of Romero Lubambo on his guitar and then Cyro Baptista joined in with his percussion. So at the very beginning itself, I was spellbound by the magical phrasing, the perfect harmonising and the totally crazy but superb percussion!
Luciana Souza Trio
I don’t know which artist to talk about first in the trio! You know what, let me do it in the alphabetical order (Ok, i was lying, i wanted to talk about Cyro first!). So first comes Cyro Baptista. Ok, this man is a crazy genius. He is like a mad inventor who just gets the most fabulous tunes out of ordinary things. He had a gas pipe whistle, a brush, some beads, a wheel like thing with balls embedded in it that made such a distinctive clanging sound, shakers made out of vegetables and gourds, metal sheets, rocks…. he was totally amazing in his percussion arrangement. Apparently, Cyro’s favorite store is Home Depot where he goes looking for new material for new percussion instruments.
Of course, in today’s electronic world, you can get whatever sound you want. But hearing those sounds (like a bird flying away or rain pouring down) live produced from real tangible instruments on stage? Well, the effect is totally different. His superb grasp of the rhythm and the way he blended all the funky sounds from his myriad instruments into the music was just breath-taking.
Cyro Baptista
In his solo, he showed a glimpse of what he could do. You could here the tides and the ocean one minute, then the next moment you were in a jungle with the birds chirping and the whooshing of the wind. But then, suddenly you would be transported ina train to join an army parade. There were so many combinations of sounds – with echos, with tribal sounds, animal sounds- he was a true entertainer.To me, he was the highlight of the evening. But, that said, the others weren’t any less stars.
Luciana Souza has a voice that is made for this genre. She has this pleasant yet deep yet not too shrilly voice (it’s hard to describe it!). She can sing so fast (almost breathlessly) or slip into a very slow soul-stirring song that makes you cry. Her phrasing and the improvisation was impeccable. To me, “firewood” was a very memorable song with very very creative percussion.There was a song about a two exes on the dance floor dancing with their current partners respectively, with the female looking at her ex with a longing (ah…these songs are so melancholic). In this one, Luciana’s phrasing (like tatara or papparapap similar to solfeggios of a sort being put together),matched Romero’s harmonising so well. This was a fast number and she executed it so well.
The charming Luciana Souza
Her song selection is very enjoyable. Her music flows like poetry and she is drwan by the sounds of nature too. “Tide”, “Amulet”- all these songs were thoroughly enjoyable. She explained that she is looking at the bossa nova genre from a new perspective- that of a Brazilian who has settled elsewhere and that is where most of her songs come from. The deep sorrow in most of the Brazilian songs will be somewhat surprising to people from other countries. But it had a tinge of dark humor that was pleasant.
Now about the other star of the trio- Romero Lumbambo. Remember when he had come alongwith Ms. Gal Costa? Well, I saw a different side to him today. He was totally in his element and was making “jokes with his guitar”. His playing was just fun and complimented the singing and the percussion. The spontaneity was amusing and totally entertaining.
Romero Lubambo
When the performers are true friends and have true respect for each other’s work, it shows. The camaraderie and as a result of it, the beautiful music and add the artists’ great sense of humor to it-it was a party that you didn’t want to miss!
At the end of the concert, there was an added bonus! We had a Q&A session with them and learnt so much more. Of course, I had to go ask a stupid question right. I asked them if they rehearsed (ok ,people, I don’t know much. me a jazz novice you see).. And Luciana, smilingly said,” No. We know the arrangement of the song. Then it is based on the audience, the mood of the evening and it’s all spontaneous. Maybe we should rehearse more (with a twinkle)”.
hmmm… nah! these guys are great doing what they do and I don’t think they need any practicing!
As for Latin Jazz- an art form where there is so much room for spontaneity and creativity- I am loving it!
Yours truly,
Krithika, for [art]seen
Krithika is totally looking forward to Cyro Baptista’s ” Beat the Donkey” show on Mar 13th!
I am sure you are in the mood for some jazz with the weather being so crappy. Tonight, we have the charming Louciana Souza thrilling us with some amazing jazz! Brazilian singer Louciana Souza hails from a family of bossa nova exponents (remember Gal Costa?) and is known for her smooth and melodious voice. Her latest recording Tide was nominated for the 2010 Grammy in the Best Vocal Jazz category.
What sets her music apart is the innovation and creativity which takes the old and gives it a totally different touch while maintaining its integrity. She has a solid base in jazz and her interpretations are well-known. Her recording, The New Bossa Nova, got a lot of critical acclaim.
I love this genre of Latin Jazz as it somehow wraps melancholy and joy and establishes an unique equilibrium between the two states, not choosing one over the other. Also, the setting is so personal and it feels as if it is all being performed only for you.
Tonight, Ms. Souza will be accompanied by Mr.Romero Lubambo who was here last fall with Ms. Costa . Mr. Lumbambo is one of the best guitarists in his genre and I totally look forward to his strumming. And we have the amazing Brazilian percussionist Cyro Baptista too (he is another brilliant performer).
Tickets for this must-see show is at the Michigan League ticket Office or at the box office before the show.
What can be more beautiful than a snowy evening with soul touching music? Come away with me to Rackham tonight!
Yours truly,
Krithika, for art[seen]
Krithika is making the most of the snow by building musical snowmen
