Muruga Booker and the Global Village Ceremonial Band will be appearing at the Witches Brew Coffee House in West Hempstead with the band Who Knows? on Sunday, February 22, 2004 at 7PM in a benefit concert for the Animal Welfare Alliance of Central Florida. 

The members of Who Knows? - Richie Nagan (guitar, vocals & percussion), Perry Robinson (clarinet), Mark Whitecage (alto sax), Frank Annunziata (guitar & bass) and Matt Snyder (bass clarinet) – have long associations with Muruga, playing with him in various configurations dating as far back as the 1960’s.  Muruga and the members of the GVCB will play a set with Who Knows? followed by a set by the GVCB with the members of Who Knows? sitting in.

Muruga has recorded and performed with Baba Olatunji, Sikiru, Premdas, George Clinton and the P-Funk All Stars, Weather Report, Dave Brubeck, Bob Dylan and Allen Ginsberg, as well as Merl Saunders and Jerry Garcia on the hit album Blues from the Rain Forest. Currently Muruga has his own band, The Global Village Ceremonial Band.

Perry Robinson is one of the premier jazz clarinetists in the world, known for his free wheeling improvisations. He has been associated through the years with Gunther Hampel, the Brubecks, Charlie Haden, Archie Shepp, Pete Seeger and his late father, Earl Robinson, the composer of such classic songs as "Joe Hill", "Black and White", "The House I Live In" and "Ballad For Americans".

Mark Whitecage is internationally known as an innovative instrumentalist and composer in the fields of jazz and new music. He performs at the highest level of creativity, constantly transforming and reconfiguring his wealth of musical experience to offer a fresh and unique voice in any musical setting.  Over the years Mark has played with such greats as Perry Robinson, Gunter Hampel, Anthony Braxton, Tony Scott, Dewey Redman and a host of others.

Frank Annunziata, one of the finest guitarists in the world of rock has shared the stage with such performers as Canned Heat, Rick Danko, Country Joe and the Fish, David Bowie and many others. Most recently he has been paying with Richie Havens and is heard on Richie's latest CD "Wishing Well".

Matt Snyder is a musician in New York, playing too many instruments and not making enough money.  He’s been playing clarinet since Jimmy Carter was in the White House. He plays with Mike Longo’s big band and the New Reed Quartet, a wonderful free group with Perry Robinson, Mark Whitecage, and Rozanne Levine.

Richie Nagan is the organizer of Who Knows?  The seeds for the band were planted in 1971 while Richie was a student at Stuyvesant High School when he met Perry Robinson and Mark Whitecage.  He has performed with Pete Seeger, Airto, George Clinton and the P-Funk All Stars, Rob Koritz and Dino English of the Dark Star Orchestra.  He is also currently a member of Muruga’s Global Village Ceremonial Band.

The mission of the Animal Welfare Alliance of Central Florida is to bring together Central Florida's animal rescue groups, veterinarians, animal welfare organizations and concerned citizens to work together to end the killing of healthy adoptable animals in Central Florida due to overpopulation and lack of homes through education and outreach programs,  free or low cost spay/neuter programs and maximizing adoptions.  Florida has one of the worst homeless pet problems in the country.  The United States Fish and Wildlife Service has joined State of Florida in their crusade in killing homeless cats in Florida.

Witches Brew, which is located at 311 Hempstead Turnpike in West Hempstead, NY (on Long Island), is owned by two lovely young sisters, Alabama and Lulo.  It is located in a 100 year old house which was renovated by the sisters and their friends and they serve freshly brewed gourmet coffees, specialty teas and desserts in a sixtyish Victorian atmosphere.  Their phone number is (516) 489-WITCH.

The suggested donation for the concert is $15.

Muruga will also be conducting a yoga workshop followed by a drum circle at Witches Brew on Saturday, February 21, 2004 at 4 PM.  Admission to the workshop and drum circle is free.

For more information contact Richie Nagan at (917) 299-8764.