One World Tribe

The first time I saw One World Tribe, I thought that a Jim Henderson production had come to town. The Tribe definitely display characteristics of Dr. Teeth's band. Their stage presence is so awesome, it doesn't matter that less than a handful of soundmen (and rooms, for that matter) are able to capture what is actually happening on stage. The vibe is there, and the tunes are audible enough to figure out that this band is tighter than any band that comes through town, much less any band from town.
The fact is, One World Tribe is a compilation of some of Pennsylvania's best musicians, and this shines through on their long-awaited debut CD, Unity And Diversity. I can say without hesitation that this is the best locally produced CD I have ever heard, by far. A mixture of reggae, jazz, funk, rap, Latin, R&B and world beat, Unity And Diversity is a polyrhythmic ride through each genre that can be a visually rewarding experience (if you let it) as it is an aural one. Percussion drives, but never smothers the bouncing, sometimes odd-metered melodies, complete with multi-layered vocal harmonies that are so precise it's spine chilling.
You would need a pretty elaborate abacus to keep track of the number of different musicians featured on this disk, and producer Rusty Jackson herded them together with sheeping-like consistency.
He lets everyone step up, without stepping on the numerous feet of the Tribe. Most notable guest performance is from Louisiana Zydeco aficionado Terrence Simien. His vocal/accordion performance on the War-like "We Are One" makes this track one of the strongest on the disk. Other stand out guest appearances include M'Baye Rama Diage (a master drummer from Senegal), as well as more than a few popular regional talents.
Make no mistake about it, the Tribe are the real deal. Consisting of Preacha - lead vocals and percussion, Kenny Hollis - licks (guitar and tongue), Mark Marchant and Matty Walker - percussion and percussion, Brad Amidon - drums, Mike Chin - bass guitar, Kennedy Thompson - keyboards and percussion, and Frank Singer - keyboards and saxophone, the Tribe are quickly becoming known as one of the tightest bands in the region. With such elaborate instrumentation, it would be easy for OWT's songs to be cluttered down with too much of everything. Herein lies the most impressive aspect of Unity And Diversity. When 'less is more' can be a good rule of musical thumb, with the Tribe, more is more. Percussion patterns abound beneath, above, and around each tune, only to compliment each other, some so subtle that they only become apparent after hearing the disk a couple of times.
The opening cut, "Go Forward", is a Reggae in 5 tune that has unshakable horn hook, while OWT's "Keep On Struttin'" (based on the Meters' "Chicken Strut"), a standout during their live set, will have you unconsciously clucking like a chicken thanks to Kenny Hollis' impersonation. Very impressive is Brad Amidon's composition "Mosi Oa Tunya", which is as intricate rhythmically as anything on the disk. Mike Ohm, lead guitarist for Plato's Cave, guests on this cut and lays tasteful licks over the pounding progression. That's the thing about the disk that I dig the most, the songs OWT don't play live that are on the disk are as strong and stronger than the tunes we've heard grow through their live performances. Songs like "Money Don't Make It Right" have been in OWT's set for a couple of years, and don't lose anything in the studio recording, but songs like "We Are One" which are freshly written, sound as if they have been played live and had time to grow into their final form.
"Who Gets The Money" is a Singer/Preach song that proves that Frank Singer is capable of just about anything musically. He plays piano like Keith Jarret or Chick Corea on acid; fast , furious, and right on. What's really sick is that he's probably as good a guitar player as he is a keyboard player. Any song on this disk he had a hand in writing is a gem. Preach's vocals command attention on songs like the title track "Unity And Diversity" and "Go Forward". Like the rest of the band, his vocals adapt to the style of the song they're playing with Zelig-like ease. Whether it's rap ("Keep On Struttin'"), reggae ("Mr. Gahnjah Mon") or R&B ("Money Don't Make It Right"), Preach and the Tribe have change-up ability that Phil Niekro would be jealous of.
One World Tribe also is not afraid to take chances on this disk. The Latin cover "Maria Caracoles", which Santana had covered in the seventies, is done sweet justice with Enrique Lozada at the vocal helm. The fact is, it just seems like they're taking chances with a tune like this, in reality, the musical ability of each member of the Tribe is on such a higher plane than any other local band, that a tune like this is a breeze. Mike Chin's "Wanty Wanty" has a unique poetic license applied to it. Chinisms? Chinish? Chin-ese? Chinnigan? Call it what you like, it works, as does everything else on this specta - Randy Baumann

Dear Kennedy,

I don't do this often, but I just wanted to make sure you knew how much we appreciated One World Tribe coming all the way to Rockford, Il. for our annual "On The Waterfront" festival.

Although the band had not performed here before, and were booked just from bio info and listening to your "The World Today" CD, I could not have imagined a better experience! The capacity crowd loved you, and I was grinning like a kid the entire time.

The main things I like about One World Tribe are the range of styles you're good at, and also the ease with which you pull it off, without appearing routine. You all appear to love playing, and it shows. It's refreshing to see a band that plays together as much as you having a good time.

Although we try not to repeat bands in consecutive years, so we can present the widest range of styles, I'd like to think you're on our "short list" of bands to come back soon. I hope the band enjoyed it as much as we did.

Please keep in touch, and let me know if there is ever anything I can do for you.

Thanks,

Craig Nagus

Ethnic Village Stage Chairman

On The Waterfront Festival

308 West State St.

Rockford, Illinois 61101

815-964-4388 - Craig Nagus

In many ways, One World Tribe, based in Pittsburgh, Pa., was a perfect choice to open up the show for Buring Spear. They shared a similar, if less well-formed, political dynamic but also showcased a musical backdrop that included reggae stylings alongside snippets of juju, calypso, soul horn bands from the 1970s and Parliment/Funkadelic. In fact, their putative lead guitarist (there is a veritable host of multi-instrumentalists in the band) seems to draw heavily on the influence of George Clinton's string benders, Gary Shider and Eddie Hazel, especially in songs like "No Justice, No Peace" and "Money Don't Make It Right."
The band also had quite a stage show, augmenting the basic octet with three of four dedicated percussionists and a quintet/sextet of dancers that moved like a combination of holiness parishioners and an African chorus line. - Buffalo News

In 1973 reggae singer Jimmy Cliff set the music and cultural world afire when along with a cast of amateur actors he starred in a film set in obscure Jamaica featuring local musicians playing a virtually unknown music. The Harder They Come firmly established reggae and opened the door for other world beat music. Twenty-eight years later, and long after the death of third-world superstars like Bob Marley and Toots, world beat music is as vital and inspiring as ever.
One World Tribe, one of the area's most popular live bands and a major proponent of reggae-funk-world beat music, has just released The World Today, a collection of seven stunning original tunes. The sound quality on this CD is probably the best I've heard all year; the clarity of the mix and the separation of instruments is remarkable considering there are over 12 musicians including seven singers, six percussionists, a couple keyboards, two guitars and a bass. The musicianship is impeccable and One World Tribe keeps the energy level poppin', just as they do in their live shows. This is the CD to spin when you want everyone at your party to get off their butts and start sweating. Outstanding songs include "Touba" a mid-tempo grooving tune with right-on world rhythms, a beautifully clean guitar solo, and completely unintelligible lyrics (probably because they're in a foreign language). The tune is written by percussionist M'Baye Rama Diagne. Another great song is "Tell Them", a "message" reggae tune as authentic as anything Yellowman, Peter Tosh or any of the masters have put out. "Resistance" is worth noting, too, for its great vocal harmony and inexorable pulling rhythm. While influences from Marley to Earth, Wind & Fire can be heard on The World Today, the songs are all fresh and the CD should be a welcome addition to anyone's collection. - Artvoice

By Doctor Rock
On Broadway, Savion Glover brings da funk, brings da noise and it's good, very good. On Unity and Diversity, Erie's One World Tribe not only brings da funk and da noise but da reggae, R&B, dancehall, rap, African chant, Latin, rock, and enough horns and cookin' percussion to get an entire island chain moving and it's good, very good. This disc has more soul, brims with more vitality, than half the discs that pass for music on corporate labels. Jam-packed with 74 minutes of music, Unity and Diversity shows off One World Tribe's many faces and facets to astonishing effect.
To be sure, it's not only a big band - with ten members - but a mighty diverse one. Members boast credentials in a variety of musical genres, including classical, jazz, reggae, rock, Latin, funk and R&B. With One World Tribe, they find a way to bring all those under one roof in a joyous, celebratory way.
What ties it all together - more than the world-music tag - is a common vision. Their assorted songwriters - and pretty much everybody contributes - ascribe to a similar world view. It's a we're-all-in-this-together thing, so let's-get-along utopianism; a belief that one universal truth governs us all. They mistrust power, decry poverty and violence, urge tolerance and respect of people's differences. And yet - beyond the lyrics - they say all this by the simple act of standing together on stage, making music. It's one thing to preach unity and harmony, regardless of race and sex and religion, and another to actually DO it, play it live, loud and proud.

AND DID THE DOC SAY THEY PLAY
it good, very good? Musicianship here is first-rate, ditto the production and mixing. And, despite all the different styles on display, the songs are tightly focused. One World Tribe doesn't make the mistake of cluttering up songs with too many styles, thereby creating an unlistenable mess. They use a lot of instrumentation but everything works for the song, not against it. And each song has a strong stamp and identity, though a few - especially "Mosi Oa Tunya" - stretch out to good effect. Arrangements are a strong point, not a weakness, with One World Tribe.
"No Justice, No Peace" salutes Marley-style reggae with an in-the-pocket verve, thanks to Chin's deep-burbling bass and DeBoe's warm back-up vocals. Preach - a toaster up there with Toastmaster - also shines on the exuberant, horn-powered reggae opener "Go Forward," which has a nice, rippling piano break, and the more playful "Mr. Gahnja Mon."
The Doc also likes the furious scratch-funk of "Who Gets the Money?" and breezy, groove-laden "Money Don't Make It Right," an R&B pleaser. One World Tribe throws longtime fans a bone by doing the Meter's "Keep on Struttin," in a re-worked version that really cooks. Take it to the bridge? Take it to the bank: This jaunty/funky version swings like a night on the town. And "Maria Caracoles," a peppy, Latin-fueled burner sung in Spanis, works in any language. It's got some squalling guitar and a jazzed-up ending.
Guest star Terrance Simien provides stellar accordion work on the sassy "We Are One," which features scorching congas, some African chanting, and intense rhythmic undertow. OWT's rhythm section, by the way, is stellar.
With "Mosi Oa Tunya" and "Rio," One World Tribe widens its horizon, exploring jazzier terrain. The former also dives deeply into African chant and features an extended horn solo. It's a complex, fascinating track, one of the Doc's favorites. "Rio" has an airier feel, sort of Santana meets Manhattan Transfer, and closes with a jazzy jam.
The only cut the Doc doesn't much care for is the King's X remix of "No Justice," delivered in rapid-fire rap. But the reggae-tinged title track closes the disc on a bubbly, upbeat note. You gotta like a song which encourages you to sing, "no more lawyers." And when it kicks into percussive overdrive, it really lifts off, showing One World Tribe's musicality and inventiveness.
With Unity and Diversity, One World Tribe has produced one mighty good disc that might have some folks thinking they're from Erie, Jamaica, or Erie, N.Y., not Erie, Pa. It's a first-class package from a classy band.

'UNITY AND DIVERSITY' by One World Tribe. Doctor Rock's rating: **** out of four - Erie Times News