Cyro Baptista’s Banquet of the Spirits 4 Oct. 2012

Cyro Baptista “…The man the stars call when they want that otherworldly flavor in the mix…” – Time Out New York

Tickets available from the Spirit Store 042 9352697 or online @ http://www.spiritstore.ie/tickets.php

Louth Contemporary Music Society celebrates the first Irish visit of New York based iconic composer and instrumentalist John Zorn in a mini-festival entitled John Zorn The Holy Visions on 4 and 5 October 2012.

The first concert in the John Zorn’s The Holy Visions is from Zorn’s long time collaborator, the world-renowned Brazilian percussionist Cyro Baptista and his group Banquet of the Spirits. Cyro Baptista and Banquet of the Spirits will perform music from their latest cd Caym: The Book of Angels which interprets Zorn’s sublime Masada songbook dedicated to the Jewish diaspora with a Brazilian and middle eastern twist.

Banquet of the Spirits’ concert takes place on Thursday 4 October 2012 at 8pm in An Tain Theatre Dundalk.

Preceding Cyro Baptista’s concert will be John Zorn in conversation which will take place in The Space An Tain Theatre, Dundalk Louth at 7.45pm on 4 October 2012

Only open to those who have purchased tickets for Cyro Baptista’s concert on Thursday 4 October 2012 in An Tain Theatre, Dundalk, Louth

“…The man the stars call when they want that otherworldly flavor in the mix…” – Time Out New York

Born and raised in São Paulo, Baptista has been a major force in world music for three decades, touring and recording with luminaries such as Yo-Yo Ma (The Brazil Project), Herbie Hancock (Gershwin’s World), Paul Simon (Rhythm of the Saints) and Wynton Marsalis (Brazilian Carnaval) to name a few.

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.

With his own project, the percussion and dance ensemble known as ‘Beat the Donkey’ Cyro gives free reign to his imagination, mixing his tremendous musical skills, his natural humor and theatrical ways with instruments from Brazil, Middle East, Indonesia, Africa and US.Cyro’s credits read like a “Who’s Who” of modern music. He toured extensively with Yo-Yo Ma’s Brazil Project, Trey Anastasio’s Band (of Phish), John Zorn’s Electric Masada, Herbie Hancock’s Grammy award winning “Gershwin’s World”, Sting and Paul Simon’s “Rhythm of the Saints”.

Banquet of the Spirits
Shanir Blumenkranz, bass and oud
Brian Marsella  Keyboards
Tim Keiper Drums and percussion