Cyro Baptista’s
Beat the Donkey
One-Hour Family Performances
Saturday, March 13, 1 pm & 4 pm
Power Center
| Adult | $16 |
| Children | $8 |
There is an undeniable aura of fun and humor whenever Cyro Baptista takes the stage, and this is particularly true with Beat The Donkey, his eightperson band that takes rhythms beyond their natural frontiers to create an innovative brand of music. The group’s name comes from the Brazilian expression “Pau Na Mula,” which means “Let’s go! Let’s do it!” It is a wild, unstoppable and torrid world-beat ensemble that blends a bewitching brew of untamed percussion, tap dance, martial arts, samba, jazz, rock, and funk. The group accomplishes this by mixing instruments from all over the globe with unusual percussion inventions of Cyro’s own creation. The musicians wear wild, elaborate costumes and frequently leave their instruments to break into spontaneous dance, making the group fun to watch as well as listen to. Cyro himself roams the stage, conducting his troupe with fiendish glee and captivating the audience. As someone who has both composed music for Nickelodeon and become the “go-to” person for Yo-Yo Ma, Cassandra Wilson, Kathleen Battle, John Zorn, Herbie Hancock, The Chieftains, and a host of other stars looking to add a Brazilian beat and an otherworldly mix to their projects, Cyro Baptista delivers performances that people talk about for years to come. UMS audiences have two chances to hear this amazing artist this season; Baptista is also a member of the Luciana Souza Trio.
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The 09-10 Family Series is Sponsored by Toyota. |