DESCRIPTION:
This video was shot in Tokyo, Japan at the "Where is the Music?" Festival

New Album INFINITO - order here:
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Banquet of the Spirits is: Cyro Baptista, Brian Marsella, Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz and Tim Keiper

Banquet of the Spirits is 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. Cyros 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.


MORE ABOUT CYRO BAPTISTA:
Born in São Paulo, Brazil, Cyro Baptista arrived in the U.S. in 1980 with a scholarship to the Woodstock-based Creative Music Studio, and has since 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.

Cyro's credits read like a 'Who's Who' of modern music. In 2002 Cyro toured with Yo-Yo Ma's Brazil Project (as well as appeared on the Obrigado Brazil album - winner of two Grammy awards), Trey Anastasio (of Phish), and John Zorn. He recorded and performed worldwide with Herbie Hancock's Grammy award winning Gershwin's World. Cyro collaborated with Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra for a Brazilian Carnival modern jazz concert. For over two years, he toured with Paul Simon's Rhythm of the Saints tour and appears on his Concert in Central Park release. In addition, Cyro toured the globe with Sting in 2001.

Performing his unique blend of percussion with some of music's most popular artists has given Cyro remarkable credibility within the industry. The wide range of artists Cyro Baptista has performed and recorded with include: David Byrne, Derek Bailey, Kathleen Battle, Gato Barbieri, Dr. John, Brian Eno, Robert Palmer, Melissa Etheridge, Laurie Anderson,James Taylor, Michael Tilson Thomas, Daniel Barenboim, Bobby McFerrin, Wynton Marsalis, Yo-Yo Ma, Medeski Martin & Wood, Spyro Gyra, Trey Anastasio, Carlos Santana, Tim Sparks, Sting, Stephen Kent and John Zorn, yet the list goes on. He has also played with many respected Brazilian artists such as Milton Nascimento, Caetano Veloso, Ivan Lins, Marisa Monte, Badi Assad, and Nana Vasconcelos.

Cyro has performed on five Grammy award winning albums: Yo-Yo Ma's Obrigado Brazil, Cassandra Wilson's Blue Light 'Til Dawn, The Chieftains' Santiago, Ivan Lins' A Love Affair, and Herbie Hancock's highly-acclaimed Gershwin's World. He has also recently played on Tony Bennet s Grammy Nominated album entitled Duets - an Amercian Classic. A documentary on Cyro's main project, Beat the Donkey, was recorded for the prestigious WGBH-TV Boston program 'La Plaza' won 3 New England EMMY Awards in 2002, and continues to air on PBS stations nationwide.