Mike Watt Adds Post-Punk Vibe to “Pedro WOO” On Bernie Worrell: Wave from the WOOniverse
Dive into Bernie Worrell: Wave from the WOOniverse, a star-studded tribute to the late funk legend, featuring an eclectic mix of artists like Bootsy Collins, Mike Watt, and Sean Ono Lennon.
The cover of the posthumous Bernie Worrell album, “Wave From the WOOniverse”
When it came to putting together Bernie Worrell: Wave from the WOOniverse, a massive project involving rummaging through dozens of recording sessions of half-finished songs in the late funk pioneer’s archives, musical director and producer Evan Taylor knew he’d be bringing in some very special guests. On the top of his list was Mike Watt (the Minutemen, the Stooges), who was someone both he and Worrell had worked with before.
“It’s not just a comfort level of working with people you’re used to and that you love and admire and respect, but with this project especially, I wanted to make sure we had people on the album that Bernie also loved and respected. Mike Watt and I not only worked on many projects together outside of Bernie over the years, but he had collaborated on several occasions with Bernie, including live with the Bernie Worrell Orchestra,” says Taylor, who toured with Worrell in the Bernie Worrell Orchestra with Watt and produced Bernie Worrell: Wave from the WOOniverse, which also features Jerry Harrison (Talking Heads), Fred Schneider (the B-52s), Sean Ono Lennon, and others.
Watt is featured on the track, “Pedro WOO,” which was the first song Taylor began working on for this ambitious project in 2022. “Bernie wrote the song and performed the synth solo, most likely on a Minimoog, and the vocals at the end. I had [P-Funk’s] Bootsy Collins take a listen to it first to help with the arrangement and structure. He helped tighten it up and pointed out what he liked and things he didn’t like. He’s very precise. I played some ARP Pro Soloist and ARP Solina String Ensemble to pay tribute to the sounds I had grown so familiar with over my tenure with Bernie,” says Taylor, who began working with Worrell in 2009 and co-produced three of the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s records — the acclaimed 2010 Standards and two EPs Prequel and BWO Is Landing.
The next step was sending the track to Watt in San Pedro, California. “He took it in a direction I didn’t anticipate,” admits Taylor. “He had unique harmonic ideas that he incorporated to lift the song into a soul/post-punk hybrid. It was like the tonality of post-punk bass superimposed on funk.”
In case you’re wondering who Pedro WOO is, Taylor reveals, “Pedro WOO is a state of mind, combining the quirkiness of the WOOniverse (Bernie’s home) and the unique funk of San Pedro (Mike Watt’s home).”
Post-punk meets funk isn’t the only genre bender on the 13-track double album, which explores many sides of Worrell’s musical life. There’s also “Transcendence,” which leans into his classical roots, “The Big WOO,” which showcases his funny side, and “Re-Enter Black Light (Phase II), which sounds like a cinematic jazz fusion dream, among a bevy of funkadelic songs and other musical gems.
Of the eclectic nature of the release, Musoscribe.com says, “The music is as all-over-the-place as that roster would suggest, but the unifying element is Worrell’s always-compelling, always lyrical keyboard work. There are soaring and soothing instrumental tunes, deep-fried funk, up-tempo dance numbers, and more.”
Here’s what other critics are saying about the release: “Prepare to be transported to the far reaches of the musical cosmos with Wave From the WOOniverse.” (Psychedelic Baby magazine) “Worrell’s essence and affinity for collaboration are truly on display throughout this epic 13-song track list.” (One West magazine)
Bernie Worrell: Wave from the WOOniverse was released on Org Music initially on vinyl on Record Store Day (April 20, 2024) and then digitally and on CD in August 2024 at all DSPs (linktr.ee/bernieworrell). The lineup includes Bootsy Collins (James Brown, P-Funk), Jerry Harrison (Talking Heads), Fred Schneider (the B-52s), Mike Watt (The Minutemen, The Stooges), Leo Nocentelli (The Meters) and Sean Ono-Lennon, Leo Nocentelli, Miho Hatori, Steve Scales, Marc Ribot, Fred Wesley, Marco Benevento, Stanton Moore, Steven Bernstein, Daru Jones, Will Calhoun, Buckethead, Norwood Fisher, and many more.
“Pedro WOO” Production Credits:
Evan Taylor: Keyboards Tim Young: Guitars, Electric Sitar Davey Chegwidden: Percussion Michael Jerome Moore: Drums Gang vocals: John Nyboer, Ricky Martinez, Evan Taylor Engineered by Spencer Guerra Watt recorded at tHUNDERpANTS in San Pedro Mixed by Spencer Guerra Produced by Evan Taylor
Mastered by Steven Berson at Total Sonic Media, Cedar Park, Texas (digital tracks) and Dave Gardner (vinyl tracks)
In addition to the new album, fans can catch Evan Taylor on April 16 at Nublu in New York City as the Bernie Worrell Orchestra reunites for a performance in honor of Bernie’s birthday at a party sponsored by Black Rock Coalition.
Bernie Worrell: Wave from the WOOniverse track listing:
01. Intro (Reflections on a Bird) – Feat. Nick Montoya 02. Distant Star – Feat. Jerry Harrison, Paul Dooley, Alecia Chakour, Invisible Familiars 03. What Have They Done To My Funk – Feat. Bootsy Collins, Michael Moon Reuben, Ouiwey Collins, Buckethead 04. Heapin’; Bowl Of Gumbo – Feat. Leo Nocentelli, Fred Wesley, Stanton Moore, Lonnie Marshall 05. Re-Enter Black Light (Phase II) – Feat. Sean Ono Lennon 06. The Big WOO – Feat. Fred Schneider, Binky Griptite, Marco Benevento, Jaleel Bunton, Kyp Malone, Ana Becker 07. Greenpoint – Feat. Steve Bernstein, Mauro Refosco, Smokey Hormel, Scott Hogan, Michael Jerome Moore 08. Soldiers Of The Stars – Feat. Daru Jones, Eric McFadden 09. When The Rain Subsides – Feat. Will Calhoun 10. Pedro WOO – Feat. Mike Watt 11. Contusion – Funkadelic 12. Transcendence – Feat. Marc Ribot, Norwood Fisher 13. Wave From The WOOniverse – Feat. Miho Hatori, Sarah La Puerta, Invisible Familiars
