We launch the Writers of Koh Phangan weekly writers meet up Tuesday, April 17, at The Masons Arms back garden, Thongsala at 7:30pm. A special thanks to the new proprietor of pub for hosting the event. Stephen Oehme is a globetrotting business guy who has settled into life on the island with big plans to […]
Koh Phangan, Mason Arms, writers group, Writers of Koh Phangan
Another story about Bill’s Crosswinds tour by By Rob Nagy, and another discussion of the new book. CONCERT PREVIEW: Billy Cobham pays tribute to Crosswinds at the Colonial In conjunction with the Crosswinds Project Tour, a special free eBook excerpt (first chapter preview) of a forthcoming full-length book about Cobham will be released, written by […]
Billy Cobham, book, Brian Gruber, Cobham, jazz, jazz fusion
Music critic Geoff Gehman interviews Bill during the Crosswinds tour with a nice mention of the new book. Q: You collaborated with Brian Gruber on a new book about your life, career and world view set during last year’s sets with Barker’s big band at Ronnie Scott’s. Why did you decide to go so deep […]
Billy Cobham, book, Brian Gruber, critic, jazz fusion, review, Ronnie Scott's
“Six Days at Ronnie Scott’s: Billy Cobham on Jazz Fusion and the Act of Creation” PREFACE There was a domestic war in the United States, a growing ‘generation gap’ in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s even as the conflict in Vietnam was escalating. I was 14 in March of 1970, my brother Jeff […]
Billy Cobham, book, Brian Gruber, Cobham, Gruber, London, preface, Ronnie Scott's
The life and music of jazz fusion drummer and composer Billy Cobham is the subject of my next book, Six Days at Ronnie Scott’s: Billy Cobham on Jazz Fusion and the Act of Creation. At 73, Bill’s life work is extraordinary, perhaps the most prolific and innovative jazz drummer on the planet. From his early […]
Billy Cobham, book, Brian Gruber, fusion, jazz, Ronnie Scott's
On the heels of September’s epic Write Your Story in Paradise workshop at the Sanctuary resort, another opportunity for fun, transformation and creative development. The Tropical Writer’s Toolkit will be a unique, immersive five-day experience of writing classes, creative exercises and interactive workshops that will hone your writing skills and give you a broad range […]
2018, Brian Gruber, Kaila, Koh Phangan, Mermaid Villa, Thailand, workshop, Writing
The company (i.e., me) has relocated from its previous secluded beach to a new location on Koh Phangan, a delightful island in the Gulf of Thailand. The new location is a quarter kilometer up a hill from Taboon restaurant in ‘downtown’ Sri Thanu. I sit above a tropical jungle with a view of the nearby […]
Brian Gruber, Gruber Media, Koh Phangan, Office, Thailand
I completed my research for “WAR: The Afterparty” with a trip to Iraq in January. While I found most of my lodging for my round the world journey through Expedia, Airbnb and Lonely Planet, I came across generous Couchsurfing hosts in Afghanistan and Vietnam. And that’s where I encountered Samir Barznjy, a 31-year old surgeon and […]
Army, Erbil, Iraq, Iraqi, Kurd, Kurdish, Mosul, Peshmerga, War, War: The Afterparty
Makhmour, briefly overrun by ISIS, is the staging ground for Iraqi Army, Kurdish Peshmerga and U.S. forces in advance of the retaking of Mosul. I spoke with a Peshmerga commander and the former mayor of Makhmour during my visit in January. From “WAR: The Afterparty,” available now on Amazon here. —- Samir takes me back […]
Brian Gruber, Daesh, Iraq, ISIS, Makhmour, Samir, War: The Afterparty
In my travels through the Greater Middle East for the Afterparty book project, I went out of my way to meet Muslims. I visited mosques in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, met with the leading Afghan Islamic scholar at his mosque in Kabul between afternoon prayers, discussed religion with secular, […]
Abu Dhabi, Afghanistan, Dubai, Iraq, Islam, Muslims, religion, War The Afterparty