 NE WORLD was
formed in 1985 by Frank Unzueta, a working musician who "just
couldn't hold my original music inside anymore". He had been writing
pieces for acoustic piano, hoping to put a group together to record and
perform his music. But something happened along the way to change his
whole approach to the new project. "I was asked to perform at a
friends' party and they requested that we play some "soca" music
("soca" is an upbeat dance style of music from Trinidad).
Needless to say, I had no idea what they were talking about; but our
drummer, who was from Trinidad, did. I was introduced to some of King
Wellington's music and it was electrifying! What a joyous sound. The
rhythms, the horns, the incessant beat just tore me apart! I was hooked
and I haven't been the same since". Frank started immediately to
incorporate these new rhythms to the pieces he was writing, and One World
was born.
Recording didn't start until nine months later.
"We were breaking new ground, and I knew we needed time to
assimilate this new style we were learning. I was definitely going to
"school" then, exposing myself not only to all the Caribbean
styles I could get hold of, but also learning many African styles as
well". A new sound began to emerge on tape and at live shows; a new
sound that Frank described as "Third World Soul".
In September 1991, "Spirits Beckon You"
was released to rave reviews from radio stations across the country. KTWV
"The Wave" in Los Angeles was the first station to play One
World's music, with program director Christine Brodie commenting that
"One World's music is a staple for the airwaves". Calypsoul,
East of Java, and Soul Forest were in heavy rotation for over six months
on KTWV alone!
During this time, Frank grew restless with the band's
direction which was primarily instrumental. "I wanted to sing, and
though there was some resistance from within the group,
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I began to focus
on writing vocal material. I also had been getting back to my early Latin
musical roots, which set the tone and direction for the new songs I was
writing . I also made a great discovery around this time that Alandras
"Oogie" Brown possessed a very powerful and soulful voice, which
I decided to concentrate on as well". The first piece Frank wrote
specifically for him was I Can't Let You Go, one of the highlights of
"L.A. Mambo".
The earliest of the new songs from Frank's pen were
Abrame La Puerta (co-written with Rocco Presutti), Ready To Fall in Love,
and the instrumental L.A. Mambo. "I felt such an emotional tie with
the song L.A. Mambo, I knew that it had to be the title track for the new
album". Recording began in earnest just after the release of Spirits
Beckon You. "We needed to develop and evolve in new directions,
Frank continues, and I was more than ready to take on the challenge".
And so was the rest of the band." Rocco bought a new electric upright
bass, Al, Tommy, and Alandras bought new percussion gear, and Mitchell and
myself began playing our acoustic guitars. We also had lots of vocal
rehearsals". Which probably accounts for the rich vocal textures
throughout L.A. Mambo.
One World enlisted the help of some of the top
musicians on the L.A. scene to form the One World Horns. They include
Dixie Dawkins, the saxophonist featured on the track L.A. Mambo,
violinist/trombonist Dan Weinstein, who has become an integral part of the
band, and drummer/percussionist Burleigh Drummond, who is a considered a
brother by all of the band, and an incredible spark on stage and in the
studio. "Dan, Burleigh, and Dixie have added so much to our sound. We
are all soul mates"! So what's next for One World? "I already have
most of our third album written and ready to record. We are also
performing a lot of the new material on stage. We plan to keep making
music, stay together, and to spread our message of love and unity as long
as we possibly can".
MORE coming I heard her
say>
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