The Beat The Donkey shows bridge Baptista’s support on Yo-Yo Ma’s Brazil Project tour. Baptista also has a set of shows lined up with John Zorn from the end of September and on into October.

The Zorn/Baptista collaboration is nothing new to fans of either artist. Baptista has been working with Zorn since the mid-‘80s. He’s also collaborated with Laurie Anderson, Herbie Mann, Caetano Veloso, Marisa Monte, Cassandra Wilson and a whole bunch of other artists, crossing genre lines.

Beat The Donkey is Baptista’s pet project of 10-plus years now. The ensemble is made up of 10 percussionists. The drummers, along with a DJ, wear wild, elaborate costumes and are known to break into dance at a moment’s notice. Consider yourself warned.