The Naked Mic's Featured Band
Hearing Universal Language play live is incredible. Rarely does a band's opening rifts urge me to dance my heart out, but their Afro-Latin funk sounds did it. And I wasn't alone. Just as their songs fuse funk, Latin, and tribal, the dance floor showcased everything from reggae to tango, with some break-dancing mixed in. Featuring very talented musicians from around the world, their latest album, Revolucion!, is founded on the principal that music is indeed a universal language. They're as political as they are good, and their sound certainly seems to have universal appeal.
Hear the music here.
Biography
Universal Language is a musical melting pot fusing Latin and world grooves to create infectious, high energy dance music. With strong roots in Mexico, Israel, Cuba, and California, UL realizes a cultural vision of unity through music. Socially relevent lyrics complement the bands hard-hitting, body-rocking, infectious beats. Their driving, dance oriented grooves have been compared to bands such as Ozomatli and Orishas, yet they posses a style and sound that is all their own. Positive lyrics, Afro-Latin percussion, Cuban tres, Andean charango and Spanish guitar are some of the ingredients added to create a rich cultural landscape. UL has shared the stage with: Alpha Blondy, Damian Marley, Ozomatli, Spearhead, Blackalicious, Vinyl, Steve Kimock, Mickey Hart, Thomas Mapfumo, and have performed on the main stage at world renowned music festivals such as: Reggae on the River, Earthdance, Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, and the Oregon Country Fair.
Trilingual singer/songwiter Moshe, leads this multi-cultural ensemble with original and inspiring music . His Middle-Eastern roots and musical endeavors throughout Latin America help fuel the stylistic fusion of that the band is famous for. The bands' revolutionary percussionist Pacha, from Chiapas, pours out heartfelt rhythms and vocals. Pacha hails from a family heavily involved with the Zapatista movement, and he continues to fight for indigenous rights through music. Brothers Renzo and Gianni are alumni of Berklee College of Music; Renzo plays six-, seven- and eight-string electric guitars, Spanish acoustic guitar, the Cuban tres, the Spanish six-string requinto, and the pan-andean charango. Bobby plays the upright and electric basses with incredible facility and melodic interest, constantly re-inventing the instrument with every performance. Chris's stylistic diversity keeps the group grounded from rhumba to reggae. As one of the Bay Area's most demanded live, and studio drummers, Chris never misses a beat.
ˇRevolucion! Is UL's debut studio album, teaming the all-star band up with members of Spearhead. Revolución was released on January 15th 2005, and is recieving airplay on KZSC, KPIG, KUSP, and KKUP in California as well as international airplay in Mexico, Cuba and Israel. From start to finish, this album has been praised as "a musical gold-mine" The opening track "Mind Body Soul" features beatboxing and vocals by Spearhead's own Radio Active. The closing track "Colorblind", is sung in Hebrew and Arabic bringing much needed message of unity and hope to the Middle-East. In between tha band takes the listener to Africa, Cuba, Jamaica, Brazil, Peru and beyond.
Instrumentation
Moshe Vilozny-vocals, acoustic guitar, Cuban tres
David "Pacha" Alvarez-congas, cajon, percussion, vocals
Renzo Staiano-electric and acoustic guitars, cuban tres, charango
Gianni Staiano-piano, Hammond organ, percussion
Bobby Hanson-electric and acoustic basses
Chris DiNotto-drumset, percussion
GUEST MEMBERS
Radio Active-beatbox
Jon Cavanaugh-trumpet, vocals
Joel Ford-tenor and soprano saxophones
Salif Koné-djembe and vocals
Discography
Revolución /(Debut LP) 2005
Seeds Of Change/Compilation 2004
Sounds of Santa Cruz/Compilation 2003
Get more info at http://www.universallanguage.us/sounds.php
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