Umoja Orchestra

By KELLY SEREIKAS
Avenue Writer

Trumpets, guitars, congas, timbales and drums are just a few of the instruments that could be heard jamming in Jennings Hall, Room 107 last year. The dorm room, decorated with African drapery and twinkling red Christmas lights, came alive as friends crowded the room and filled it with music.

They made a lot of noise experimenting with their common interest in world music. The friends gained confidence when female students visiting Jennings to see their boyfriends would come to listen, guitarist and vocalist Sebastián López said.

Now, a year and a half later, the same friends infiltrate local venues as Umoja Orchestra. Saturday, they'll release their first album.

"At first, there were no expectations of starting a real band," drummer Evan Garfield said.

From the band's size to the music genre the musicians play to their tight friendship, Umoja Orchestra is not typical in any way.

The band has 10 official members but often packs other guest artists on the stage. The musicians play world music, drawing inspiration from numerous regions, including Latin America and Africa, and they are inspired by diverse musical genres, such as funk, soul and jazz. The term umoja means "unity" in Swahili.

It's difficult to see one member of the orchestra without at least another, because besides being bandmates, they're also best friends.

"Music is just a medium for our friendship," bassist Michael Pedron said.

When they aren't riding their bikes around town, playing Frisbee on the Plaza of the Americas or eating at their favorite restaurant, Flaco's Cuban Bakery and Coffee, the band members can be found at the "Umoja Republic."

The Umoja Republic is the home of Pedron, Garfield and saxophonist David Borenstein, but Pedron said the rest of the bandmates practically live there. They have a group of roughly 80 friends, he said, who are also a part of the Umoja family.

Many of the terms they use to describe their lives are inspired by Nigerian musician and human rights activist Fela Kuti, who created the musical genre called Afrobeat. Kuti lived in a commune called the Kalakuta Republic.

At the Republic in Gainesville, there is a garden where the band practices a form of sustainability by growing oranges, carrots and beets. The group is also internationally conscious.

Last summer, they went on a temporary hiatus, and six of the 10 members traveled to five different countries.

"We all studied different things and brought them back to each other," Pedron said.

Several returned with new instruments, but all brought new perspectives to revamp their music.

Umoja Orchestra does not have one songwriter. The band's creative process is very natural and collaborative. One person plants a seed that the rest fertilize, Pedron said. Sometimes they borrow themes from other artists to pay tribute, but much of their work is completely original.

The members of Umoja agreed they enjoy performing live the best because their music feeds off of the energy and movement of the audience.

"Our live show is just as much created by the audience as by our music," Pedron said.

As more and more people asked to buy their music at shows, the band members realized they were overdue to make a CD. They spent two full days during Winter Break recording at Avalon Recording Studio in Port St. Lucie.

Umoja Orchestra's CD release show is Saturday at The Side Bar. Native Imports and Miami's Suenalo Sound System will also perform. Suenalo Sound System is a band that Umoja members say they look up to, and it means a lot that they are one of the opening bands. - The Independent Florida Alligator

Few bands in any city have ever truly stunned me with their live performance. At the top of that short list are G. Love and Special Sauce, Atom and his Package and, surprisingly, Weezer. Last April I had the good fortune to hear Umoja Orchestra and witness their beautifully chaotic, yet carefuly orchestrated jams. It was a benefit concert for the University of Florida Music and Entertainment Industry Student Association at 1982.

As the eight-plus member band took the stage I was anxious that they might have a "too many cooks in the kitchen" complex. Within a few bars it was clear that there would be no such problem. With their variety of instruments and the mixture of funk, jazz, salsa and high-energy dancing, they have one of the most unique sounds in Gainesville. Tonight, Friday Sept. 15, Umoja Orchestra will be playing at 8 p.m. at 1982.

On Sept. 17 they will be playing at Jannus Landing in St. Petersburg, Fla. as part of Musica Fresca, a national tour promoting similar Latin fusion bands. - www.gainesvillemusic.blogspot.com