By Michael R. Ebert
michael.ebert@newsday.com
For most musicians, playing PVC pipes using flip-flops might seem a bit unusual. But for Brazilian percussionist Cyro Baptista, it’s as normal as playing a washboard using his fingernails, which he also does on occasion.
Tonight, Baptista and his high-energy multicultural ensemble Beat the Donkey will bring their unique show to Huntington as part of the town’s Summer Arts Festival. It’ll be the final summer concert for the two-month festival, which has hosted 51 music, theatre and dance acts since late June.
“We’re really going out with a bang,” explained Dianne Matus, public relations and development assistant for the Huntington Arts Council, which is producing the event.
According to Matus, the ensemble’s name, “Beat the Donkey,” emanates from a Brazilian expression that means, “Let’s go, let’s do it.” That description also reflects the band’s polyphonic sound, which is called a blend of jazz, funk, tap dance and martial arts.
From a visual angle, Baptista’s musicians are known to dress in elaborate costumes, while frequently leaving their primitive instruments to break into spontaneous dance.
“They’re fairly wild and crazy,” said Matus.
Born in Brazil, Baptista arrived in the U.S. in 1980. During his extensive career, he has performed on five Grammy Award-winning albums and toured with musicians, such as Yo-Yo Ma, Trey Anastasio, John Zorn, Herbie Hancock, Sting and Paul Simon. In July, he was named 2007 Percussionist of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association.
Cyro Baptista and Beat the Donkey bring their rhythms to Chapin Rainbow Stage in Huntington’s Heckscher Park at 8:30 p.m. tonight. For more information, call the Huntington Arts Council at 631-271- 8423 or visit huntingtonarts.org.
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