Anthropofagia — cultural cannibalism — is a concept based on an essay published by the poet and father of Brazilian modernism, Oswald de Andrade. A passage from that "Manifesto Antropofagico" reads:
"Only cannibalism unites us. Socially. Economically. Philosophically. The unique law of the world. The masked expression of all individualism and collective movement."
Brazilian "percussionista" Cyro Baptista has applied this philosophy to create ingenious music for more than five decades.
"Everything that comes from outside," he says. "We eat and we digest and regurgitate and eat again and again and again. That's what happened in Brazil, and now that's what happened with all of us, no? Like we all eating each other. We have Facebook, the tweet — all of that is a food plate."
Baptista transcends borders and style. In the world of Brazilian percussion, few players have shared the stage with Herbie Hancock, Yo-Yo Ma, Trey Anastasio of Phish, and Sting. This Jazz Night In America concert showcases Baptista's experimental and funk undertones as he performs traditional Brazilian grooves like forro and samba. We'll also visit Home Depot and take a trip into the woods to see how he creates a new percussion instrument for his arsenal.
