ONE WORLD TRIBE PERFORMED ON JULY 24, 2004 IN LOVELADIES, N.J.. A selection of advance articles follows.

From THE BEACHCOMBER July 23, 2004 Volume 55, Number 9
Long Beach Island's Original Free Weelky

One World Tribe Brings Diversity
To Foundation Concert Saturday

The audience for One World Tribe, observes band founder Kennedy Thompson, "is very diverse."

That's appropriate enough, because the band itself is an intentionally ethnic diverse unit assembled to blend the upbeat rhythms of several music cultures to create what Latin music star Carlos Santana termed "world music".

Thompson said the band strives to mix in as many ethnic styles as possible with elements of mainstream music "to form something new".

"The music appeals to a wide range of people," he said.

Come hear for yourself when One World Tribe performs 8 p.m. Saturday at the Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences. Admission is $15 ($10 for members) and $5 for children.

The band was formed over a period of two years beginning in 1995 by Thompson with help from Matt Walker. The result was an 11-piece ensemble utilizing guitar, keyboard, percussion, bass and vocals.

"One World Tribe was created on the premise of bringing together musicians of various racial and ethnic backgrounds in order to break down social and racial barriers," the band states on its web site, oneworldtribe.com. "They are an Afro-beat, funk, reggae, Latin and world beat orchestra with a myriad of musicians, dancers and extras. With members hailing from Africa, Jamaica and Puerto Rico, One World Tribe is a true multicultural ensemble."

"The message of the music is to uplift," said Thompson of Erie, Pa., who holds a music degree in percussion. "The point of music is to uplift people."

With that point, Thompson makes clear that his band's world style sounds contrast widely from the oft cynical and sometimes divisive tone of some popular music today.

"We don't see the purpose of doing music if you're not bringing people together," he said. "There's enough things going on to get people down."

One World Tribe has produced two CDs: Unity and Diversity (1997), "world beat mix of funk, Afro-Cuban rhythms, jazz, reggae with R & B blends"; and The World Today (2000).

"One World Tribe has evolved a power and presence that connects, and an attitude that's ready to party and elevate consciousness at the same time," states their web site.

The band has performed primarily in western Pennsylvania and New York around the Great Lakes region. Some research on the Internet for new venues helped Thompson and the Foundation hook up for the band's first trip to LBI.

"It's always nice to be near the ocean," Thompson said, looking ahead to this Saturday night.

- Neal Roberts

From LONG BEACH ISLAND FOUNDATION OF THE ARTS AND SCIENCES Summer 2004 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

ONE WORLD TRIBE
SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2004, 8:00 p.m.

One World Tribe was created on the premise of bringing together musicians of various racial and ethnic backgrounds in order to break down social and racial barriers. The band is a truly multicultural ensemble with members hailing from Africa, Jamaica, Puerto-Rico, the U.S. and more. Music combines an Afro-beat, funk, reggae, latin and world beat orchestra with a myriad of musicians, dancers and extra's. "One World Tribe brings funk, noise, reggae, R&B, dancehall, rap, African chant, Latin, rock and enough horns and cookin' percussion to get an entire island chain moving." - Doctor Rock, Showcase

From THE SANDPAPER Free Weekly

MULTICULTURAL MUSICAL EVENT

Those who appreciate the universality and healing power of music are in for a treat this weekend when the Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences in Loveladies presents One World Tribe, an 11-piece ensemble of international musicians, representing diverse racial and cultural origins and backgrounds. Band members hail from the Pittsburgh area, with roots in Africa, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, the United States and Asia, among other places.

For one night only - Saturday night, to be exact - the concert will bring together a cornucopia of sounds combining a funk, reggae and world beat orchestra with rhythm and blues, noies, rap, danchall, African chant, Latin, rock and more. Musicians, dancers and extras round out the multicultural celebration.

"They really try to break down the barriers," according to public relations director Muriel Zerbe, who said on behalf of the Foundation that everyone is very excited about the event, which, in her estimation, "should really appeal to everybody."

Sponsored by the Ocean County Cultural and Heritage Commission and funded partly by a state grant from the Council on the Arts, the event will be held Saturday, July 24 at 8 p.m., and admission is $5 for children, $10 for members and $15 for non-members. The Foundation is located at 120 Long Beach Island Blvd. in Loveladies and is a member of the South Jersey Cultural Alliance. For further information, call 492-1241. -V.F.

ON THE WEB:

SouthernOcean.com Internet Advance Article