Cyro Baptista

Origin

São Paulo, SP

Years Active

1980

Genres

jazz, instrumental music

Instruments

percussion

Biography

Cyro Baptista is a renowned Brazilian percussionist and session musician, born in São Paulo on December 23, 1950. His artistic career is marked by versatility and collaboration with major names in world and Brazilian music, having built a large part of his career in the United States, where he has lived and worked since 1980.

Throughout his career on international stages and in studios, Baptista has been part of productions by renowned artists such as Ivan Lins, Milton Nascimento, and Caetano Veloso, in addition to exploring genres like jazz and instrumental music. His skill with percussion also led him to record alongside icons from different musical branches, consolidating a vast self-authored discography with striking projects such as Banquet of the Spirits and Beat the Donkey.

His contribution to instrumental and experimental music has earned him critical recognition, standing out on acclaimed albums released by prestigious labels such as Tzadik. Through his rhythmic research and constant sound innovation, the percussionist from São Paulo has expanded the frontiers of Brazilian percussion abroad.

Discography

• Derek Bailey & Cyro Baptista – Cyro (1988)
• Cyro Baptista Plays The Music Of Villa Lobos – Vira Loucos (1997)
• Ivo Perelman With Matthew Shipp, Rashied Ali, Guilherme Franco, Cyro Baptista – Brazilian Watercolour (1999)
• Tommy Cecil, Tommy Flanagan, Gary Bartz, Billy Hart, Paul Bollenback, Cyro Baptista – Samba For Felix (1999)
• Beat The Donkey (2002)
• Beat The Donkey Beat (2004)
• Derek Bailey & Cyro Baptista – Derek (2006)
• Banquet Of The Spirits (2008)
• New Zion W. Cyro – Sunshine Seas (2016)
• Bluefly (2016)
• Martin Philadelphy, Jamie Saft, Dan Rieser, Cyro Baptista – Arkitsa (2019)
• Chama (2023)
• Ivo Perelman, Elliott Sharp, Cyro Baptista – Triacontagon (2026)