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James Gurley, guitarist of Big Brother and the Holding Company says
percussionist Muruga Booker “is all over the map”. It’s not an
exaggeration. Muruga’s latest group called “The Global Village
Ceremonial Band” mixes it up from funk to fusion to industrial with a
lot of stuff in between.
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The Global
Village Ceremonial Band |
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To Muruga it’s all about color. The music dynamics as well and also how the GVCB looks on stage as the band is a
sensory potpourri. Recently, when the GVCB performed at the University
of Detroit coffeehouse, they played everything from original to Led
Zeppelin to Phil Ochs. An eclectic mix if there ever was one. Muruga
also conducted a drumming circle much to the delight of the participants.
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GVCB On Stage at U of D |
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The GVCB is a 8 piece group that includes (of course) the
masterful Muruga on drums and percussion, his wife Shakti floating
around effortlessly on vox, the venerable Richard Smith on bass, multi
instrumentalist Ken Kozora on keys and Zen Drum. (which looks like a
guitar and triggers drum samples) Martin Simmons of Martha Reeve fame
on keys, and Owen B sweetens things up with his various violins.
Detroit’s very own Ralph Koziarski on sax and now Muruga and Shakti’s
teenage daughter Rani raps and dances. The audience loved it. Muruga
said “it was the best gig I’ve done in years”.
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Muruga &
Ralph (Sax) of GVCB |
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Muruga with the help of RID’s very own Bob Dennis, set up a home
recording studio at his house in Ann Arbor temporarily in the basement
until the garage is completed. The low ceiling prompted Muruga to call
it “The Duck Head Studio”. For the last several months the GVCB cut a
number of tracks using a couple of ADATS. It’s cramped but somehow the
GVCB manages to get a phat sound out of it. Bob’s input helps. After the
GVCB finishes some cuts, Muruga brings them over to the DISC for mastering where Bob’s 40 years in the business is evident in the
dynamics of the mix. The Global Village Band will release a CD probably
later this year. We’ll keep you posted.
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In May, Muruga will be headed to California where he will be conducting musical math and world of drum
workshops for a group called “Young Audiences” who book musicians and
artist' in various schools. It helps bring music to young people where
school funding might have been dropped. He will also be interviewed and
will perform live at KKUP in San Jose from 7-12 pm May 16th on the Joe
Soja Show.
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| Muruga on GVCB:
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Some people may think that the Global
Village Ceremonial Band is only the 6 or 7 people on stage but in reality and to me it's the whole human
organism in spirit and love, celebrating life in thanks to the one
creator of all...our job is to incarnate love peace unity health and
harmony in the cosmos through our prayer music art and all actions and
don't forget to boogie and groove in the heart beat of the tree of our
life co-creating with the creator living global beat of paradise dice
on earth and everywhere in all dimensions the seen and unseen worlds amen
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You can contact Muruga at 734-973-0149 or online at
esonix@netzero.net. Check out Muruga’s website at <murugabooker.com>
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