Олександр Муренко

Alexander Murenko Born in Kiev, Ukraine in 1976, Alexander Murenko was educated in classical music traditions. He entered a secondary music school, a Music College and finally, in 2000, graduated from the Drum & Percussion Department of the Music Academy in Kiev. Now Alexander mainly known among musicians by his nickname “Murchik” and is considered to be one of the best drummers in Ukraine. His brilliant career as a drummer had begun much earlier when “Murchik” was only 3. Banging on cans, he already knew that the drums would be his life-long passion. Moreover, in his childhood, “Murchik” was so much fond of music that organized his friends to imitate real rock-groups, using cans and containers as drums, pieces of wood as guitars and a stick with a rope as a microphone. Playing various styles, Alexander has a special love of jazz-rock, funk, fusion, R&B, Latin and Afro-Cuban. His drummer idols are Dave Weckl, Vinnie Colaiuta, Steve Smith, Steve Gadd. His credo is to express himself as a person through the music. “Murchik” is the first Ukrainian drummer who released a solo CD, “Back to Fusion” (2004). He has also recorded many studio albums with various Ukrainian stars. Besides his work in studio, Alexander tours with popular Ukrainian groups such as “Tanok na Majdani Kongo”, “Skhid-Side”, “Rosava”, “Alibi”, “Vsjak Vypadok,” etc. He also regularly performs with his own Drum Show. Since 2001, Alexander has been involving in one of the most successful and unique Ukrainian projects “Jog-Hurt” with Irish music characterized by specific and very complicated shuffled rhythms, which require great mastery. Not many artists have the vision and energy to be good teachers and contribute so much inspiration to the hearts of Ukrainian drummers. Since 2003, Alexander has conducted Drum Clinics across Ukraine. The highlights of Alexander’s career: - Eurovision Song Contest 2005 with Ruslana, the winner - Great success (one of the best) at 11th Drum Festival in Budapest (February, 2006) - Mapex Clinics with Walfredo Reyes Jr. (Kiev, May, 2006) - Participation in Drum Show with Narada Michael Walden (April and June, 2006 in Kiev) Presently, Alexander “Murchik” Murenko also performs with the ARS NOVA percussion group, which is now extremely popular in Ukraine. In addition, he is touring, participating in various projects, music festivals and exhibitions and is doing his favorite job: keeping music as the motivating force and sense of his life.