Many of you know our old friend and master percussionist Muruga who has been quite busy this year in and out of the studio. His band the Global Village Ceremonial Band-or GVCB has reunited Muruga with his old friend virtuoso clarinetist Perry Robinson who flies in from New York for their gigs and sessions.

Their friendship started more than 30 years ago when Muruga and Perry first met and then became members of Muruga Brubeck & Robinson also known as MBR. A highlight of that group with Daves son keyboardist Darius Brubeck was an album called "Chaplin's Back"- which was a tribute to the music of the legendary Charlie Chaplin and his movies. The record also featured a young tenor sax player who went on to national fame named Michael Brecker. Thus in the early years started a friendship between
Muruga and Perry which has endured the decades into what is now a relationship of music and a deep love for each other beyond it.

The GVCB has had a busy year. After 911, they cut a record to benefit the New York firefighters with a couple of tunes like the standard "God Bless America," and the Muruga composition "Find the Peace and Love Inside"-with Muruga's wife Shakti doing a wonderful job on vox. They held a benefit concert in
Ann Arbor at the University of Michigan that included some traditional Indian dancers and raised even more money for the firefighters involved in 911. Perry and Muruga did a duet of Perry's lively composition "Raja Roni" which thrust the listener into a foray of intricate timing of movement and melody. Great stuff.
 

Next up Muruga worked on a book with Dr. Dennis Chernin titled "How to Meditate" and it's companion forthcoming CD aply called "Kundalini Rhapsody". It's a reflection of the yoga Dr. Chernin teaches along with the considerable experience Muruga has had over the years in drone and mantra. It's a great help to many in the quest of balancing mind, body, and spirit. The book signing was held at the Crazy Wisdom bookstore in Ann Arbor, and the GVCB did a great scaled down version of themselves with their old friend and frequent member master harmonica player Madcat Ruth. The packed house really got into it.

Next up came a series of gigs that included the outdoor New York fesitival Starwood, where the GVCB are a favorite-to other fest like "Nelson Ledges" in an old rock quarry near Cleveland with former Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart. It was a family affair with Muruga and Shakti's daughter Rani joining in on the singing and dancing. The GVCB also were guest musicians on the nationally syndicated "Mitch Albom" radio show out of Detroit's own WJR. The very same night it was off to Kalamazoo where they did a gig at Bells Brewery. It was a long day lasting from early that Thursday morning until they got home around 4:30 am Friday.

In the middle of all this , the GVCB also did the "Concert of Colors" festival in Detroit, and Muruga played with George Clinton and the P-Funk at the Detroit Electronic Music Festival at Hart Plaza, and later the Detroit Music Festival at Comerica Park. Plus the GVCB cut a new CD called "One Global Village" with its mixed bag  of funk, jazz, and all around feel good music. A highlight of that record
is the great Muruga composition called "Afro Pearl Blue" that showcases the considerable talents of Perry and the rest of the band.

So it's been a very productive year for Muruga and crew. On another note, Perry has published his autobiography called "The Traveler". It's a very interesting read that follows his facinating life from his early roots in New York throughout his 85 plus records recording career with the likes of Dave Brubeck, Archie Shepp, and the many more he has gigged with. It also includes anecdotes about Perry by such luminaries as Dave Brubeck, Sonny Rollins, Benny Goodman, Chet Baker, and yes.. Muruga too-who gigged at the book signing in Manhatten. So the karma is good for Muruga and the GVCB.