Percussion Workshop with Billy Martin, Cyro Baptista, & Tim Keiper

1:00pm-3:30pm

(Load in at 12:30pm)

Tim Keiper

Born in Red Bank, NJ, Tim Keiper moved to New York City in 1999 where he was introduced to the Downtown music scene as well as to music from all over the world. At this time, he managed to study with Cyro Baptista by sneaking into his classes at the New School and soon after joined his band Beat the Donkey. He has been playing in Cyro's projects ever since including Banquet of the Spirits and his new ensemble Chama.In 2005, Keiper began working with Malian guitarist Vieux Farka Toure which presented opportunities to work and study in Mali. In 2008, they played the Festival in the Desert near Timbuktu, and it was there that Keiper was introduced to the donso ngoni, the instrument known as the hunter's harp. He recognized the sound immediately from Don Cherry's playing on the legendary Codona records, but this was the first time seeing the actual instrument. He knew right away that this instrument would become an integral part of his musical journey.In 2018, he joined David Byrne's American Utopia. This project included six drummers, all mobile, carrying their instruments like a drumline meets samba band. After a year on the road, the show moved to Broadway, performing until 2022, and was captured as a concert film directed by Spike Lee.Keiper has also worked with MGMT, Salif Keita, Imogen Heap, Matisyahu and Dirty Projectors. He leads his own project called Eclipticalia.

Billy Martin was born in NYC in 1963 to a Radio City Rockette and a concert violinist. At age 17, he devoted himself to music and dove into Manhattan's thriving, eclectic musical landscape. In the years to follow, he honed his craft everywhere from Broadway orchestra pits to Brazilian nightclubs and burgeoning underground performance spaces. In the late 1980's East Village Martin found his home (and his artistic voice) playing at the original Knitting Factory on Houston Street with John Lurie's Lounge Lizards, The John Lurie National Orchestra, John Zorn's Cobra ensembles, Samm Bennett, Ned Rothenberg, and many other uncompromising musical groups.

From the roots of the downtown scene he emerged with Medeski Martin and Wood, bridging the harmonic complexity of jazz, the conversational fluency of free improvisation, and the groove and swagger of classic R&B and funk. A series of albums and high-profile collaborations brought the band international acclaim.

Martin has relentlessly pursued diverse musical contexts, from free improvisation to chamber compositions to film scores. Much of his work is available via his Amulet Records label, which recently released the Road to Jajouka—a series of collaborations between the Master Musicians of Jajouka and various artists.

Martin is also an accomplished filmmaker and visual artist, whose work has been exhibited in solo and group installations around the world including 2014's Cartegena de indias Bienal in Colombia and the Drawing Sound series at The Drawing Center in NYC (2015)

What began for Martin as tireless enthusiasm for music, percussion, and improvisation evolved into a wide ranging search for the roots of inspiration. Teaching has been among the most valuable undertakings in this ongoing exploration.

His experiences as a teacher, student, and musician led him to create and direct Life on Drums, a cinematic exploration of percussion and the creative process with his childhood drum instructor, Allen Herman.

Billy is currently Executive Artistic Director and CEO of the legendary Creative Music Studio and part time faculty at The New School in New York City (2016-present) teaching masterclasses, The Stone Labs, Rhythmic Analysis 2-4, Improvisation Ensembles, and private lessons).

Cyro Baptista is a Brazilian born percussionist and composer whose vast talent and penchant for innovation brought him to be praised as one of the most respected musicians in the world. 

Cyro’s endless sonic curiosity and intense rhythmic led him to create several musical ensembles and record many albums of his own. He has also lent his sounds to several GRAMMY award-winning records and to over 300 CDs with many of the most beloved musicians in the world.

Cyro’s credits read like a "Who’s Who" of modern music. His talent and versatility have led to associations with a wide range of leading jazz, rock, pop, classical, avant-garde and Brazilian artists. From Paul Simon to Yo-Yo-Ma, Herbie Hancock to Kathleen Battle, Trey Anastasio( from Phish) to John Zorn, Wynton Marsalis to Laurie Anderson, from the legendary Brazilians Milton Nascimento and Caetano Veloso to Sting –  they all wanted Cyro’s magic touch on their recordings or live performances.

Baptista leads four different ensembles with ten released albums under his name. He tours continuously throughout the world with them. He conducts master classes at major musical institutions, such as Juilliard School, Berklee College of Music, New York University, Mannes College of Music, The New School, Holy Cross University, New World Symphony Orchestra, University of Vermont, University of Buffalo, Kimmel Center Jazz Camp, and K-12 schools across the country.

Baptista has a great interest in education and sharing his knowledge and experiences, especially to underserved factions of society through his “Sound of Community” initiative.