Tag: percussion group

Preview: “Pau Na Mula”! Cyro Baptista’s Beat the Donkey

krithika

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 Baptistas Beat the Donkey
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.

For [art]seen,

Krithika

Preview: This music will make you wanna ‘GROOVE’

krithika
GROOVE
GROOVE

If you dig percusion or love music similar to that of STOMP(who by the way get my vote for being one of the most creative and are great!) , then this show by GROOVE  is for you!

“GROOVE” is University of Michigan’s very own high energy percussion group that combines use of traditional as well as non-traditional instruments (like garbage cans, poles, toothbrushes (really? ))  to bring out their own unique brand of music.

GROOVE in action!
GROOVE in action!

I watched their Polynesian Warriors on youtube. You might say that it is not an entirely original act as this has been done before (oh yeah, they say that are inspired by STOMP and use some ideas from them- especially the act with the poles, trash cans, et al). BUT,  I guess the way they meld their different sounds, the rhythmic arrangement and the choreography makes it different and refreshing. They do provide good entertainment!

When I think of percussion groups,  the traditional Japanese Kodo (these drummers are just so so fabulous!) and  Safri Duo (love their “Samb Adagio”) are my personal favorites . More recently, I watched the unique Keith Terry and the slammin’ all-body band and thought they were pretty good. Alas, I did not get to see ” The Blue Man Group” live when I was in Vegas. 

What I luuuuuuuv about percussion groups is that they are always so full of life and their enthusiasm just gets to you. You just can’t escape the rhythm and  it leaves you with a feeling similar to a runner’s high! I have huge respect for percussion groups. Nothing like attending one of those shows to get a quick dose of energy.

So getting back to the point, GROOVE will be performing  one such great show on  Friday, Dec 11th at the Michigan Theater @ 7 pm. Tickets are $5 and it is general admission.

Nothing like the some great drumming to  beat away your winter blues, huh? Get your GROOVE ON!

Krithika, for [art]seen

 Krithika is not practicing on her drum set only out of pure concern  for the well-being of her neighbors’ ears and for the minor fact that she doesn’t own one!   😉