UniversalDice returns with “War and Peace, Part 1” on what will be their sixth album release, coming in 2026, and since I got a chance to preview the track and watch the video clip, I haven’t been able to stop playing it. This song runs in the background and plays as well as on headphones, so you can go about your day and enjoy what it provides, even though it touches on the rigors of war, it also touches on peace and provides a soothing effect.
The band consists of bass player, Ed Canova, with a guest appearance by Fred Rieter, of the New York Jazz Ska Ensemble, and featuring band leader Gerry Dantone on vocals and all other instruments + mixing and producing. But this is a UniversalDice song like no other, even though it doesn’t take them beyond recognition in the process. If you’re not in the know about them, “War and Peace, Part 1” is as good a place to start as any, but you’ll immediately notice the difference with this long running single containing excellent saxophone work by Reiter, as he takes a massive solo allowing the story to breath with melody and a certain class.
Dantone is not only a musician and band leader, but also a gifted songwriter and political philosophical writer and activist incorporating it into his music, which makes for a truly unique sound all their own which nobody else is doing like it, and this should be known before getting into UniversalDice, and that’s where the fun starts. If not knowing where they’re coming from, their latest release in 2024, Misfit Memoirs LP, comes highly recommended, but you will also find “War and Peace, Part 1” to differ from their norm, without losing their signature groove over it.
The musical backing and lyrics dominate the first half of “War and Peace, Part 1” with the sax solo taking over and sending it into the stratosphere, once the work of Rieter takes over, if you’re not hooked, you’re not paying attention. The song is awesome without a doubt, but the sax solo does all the business one can to bring it over the top, and hats should be tipped to this incredible solo. It wins on all counts, as it comes in time to grab your full attention.
More history on UniversalDice is in order once you hear “War and Peace, Part 1” and it’s worth the research because Dantone write some extremely eye-opening stuff for the modern music age, with direct socio-political theme that make you think, wonder, and even full of words to consider acting on. This inspiration level isn’t going around enough, and UniversalDice provide a well’s worth on the subject’s people are everything from uncomfortable to entirely devoid of in these chaotic times, and “War and Peace, Part 1” might not play as expected by fans of UniversalDice, but comes as a good surprise. Do not miss this compelling single, hear the stunning sax solo, and check out the accompanying video clip.
Mindy McCall
