Boston-based Mission of Burma released just one record before they broke up in the early 1980’s. Almost two decades would pass until in 2002 a rumor of a reunion came to fruition. 

To the delight of fans, Mission of Burma, with Roger Miller on guitar, Clint Conley on bass, Peter Prescott on drums and Bob Weston replacing Martin Swope on tape loops, has since recorded two more albums, ONoffON and The Obliterati.

In 2007 the band headlined the the annual Barking Tuna Festival in Kalamazoo. I called up Miller to discuss what it was like being back in Mission of Burma and playing in front of a legion of new fans.

Story Tools:

Percussionist Mike Shimmin stopped by the Nonchalant Cafe Hour for a conversation about his music and travels around the world.

The award winning jazz percussionist has immersed himself in a number of new rhythmic styles ranging from sounds indigenous to northern Africa to the Celtic sounds of Scotland. Shimmin was in Kalamazoo performing with his Ann Arbor-based band Millish.

Story tools: