Banquet of the Spirits is an album by percussionist Cyro Baptista which featured the debut of the band that would become known as Banquet of the Spirits – Baptista, bassist Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz, keyboard player Brian Marsella, and drummer Tim Keiper – which was released on the Tzadik label in 2008.[1]

Banquet of the Spirits
Studio album by Cyro Baptista
Released	March 18, 2008
Recorded	2007
Genre	World music
Length	48:29
Label	Tzadik 7624
Producer	Cyro Baptista
Cyro Baptista chronology
Love the Donkey (2005) Banquet of the Spirits (2008) Infinito (2009)

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]

Thom Jurek of Allmusic said "Banquet of the Spirits isn't just a step forward for Baptista, it's a leap; it's the record he's been hinting at since his debut, where he interpreted the works of Heitor Villa-Lobos. And as such, it is undeniable in how provocative, powerful, and deeply enjoyable it is as a listening experience. Whether one relishes "progressive," "modern," "primitive," "art," or "pop" music, this one's for you".[2] On All About Jazz Sean Patrick Fitzell commented that "Though lacking the costumes and overt theatrics of his Beat the Donkey ensemble, Baptista's streamlined quartet is no less engaging: constantly changing instruments and styles to crank out high-energy romps with contagious enthusiasm".[3]

Track listing

All compositions by Cyro Baptista except as indicated

1. "Tutuboli" (Baptista, Naná Vasconcelos) – 2:59
2. "Bird Boy" – 6:43
3. "Macunaima (A Hero, Warrior and Character)" – 6:42
4. "Mumakata" (Collin Walcott, Baptista) – 5:30
5. "Nana & Tom" (Baptista, Vasconcelos) – 5:44
6. "Tupinambas" – 2:14
7. "Argan" (Baptista, Hassan Ben Jaffar, Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz, Ze Mauricio) – 4:25
8. "Typing with Oswald de Andrade" – 2:36
9. "Lamento Mourisco" (Baptista, Blumenkranz) – 1:16
10. "Malinye" (Baptista, Don Cherry) – 4:41
11. "Anthropofagia" – 5:15

Personnel

• Cyro Baptista – percussion, vocals
• Brian Marsella – keyboards
• Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz – oud, bass, gimbri
• Tim Keiper – drums, percussion
• Erik Friedlander – cello (tracks 1 & 6)
• Cadu Costa – acoustic guitar (track 1), castanets (track 7), background vocals (track 2, 4, 5, 10 & 11)
• Gabriel Cordeiro, Carolina Santos – background vocals (tracks 2, 4, 5, 10 & 11)
• John Zorn – alto saxophone (track 3)
• Tom-E-Tabla – tabla (track 4)
• Ze Mauricio – shakebalde (track 7)
• Hassan Ben Jaffar – vocals (tracks 7 & 9), doumbek, qrâqeb (track 7)
• Celio Balona – accordion (tracks 8 & 10)
• Lisette Santiago – little bells (track 8)

References