La Lucha - Everybody Wants to Rule the World

2020 CD release. La Lucha presents their newest album and debut for Arbors Records, Everybody Wants To Rule The World. This project displays the telepathic interplay you expect from a band that’s been together for years.

The trio consists of best friends from three different parts of the world: Colombia (bassist Alejandro Arenas), Mexico (pianist John O’Leary), and the United States (drummer Mark Feinman), who met in 2006.

The combination of these three spirited personalities has endeared listeners to the band, and to an ever-widening circle of collaborators. La Lucha has built an impressive resume performing with jazz legends including Randy Brecker, Dick Hyman, Charles McPherson, Wycliffe Gordon, Marty Morell; as well as, the renowned guests that appear on this album: Melissa Aldana, Ken Peplowski, Chuck Redd, Diego Figueiredo, & Houston Person.

Beautifully produced by clarinetist Ken Peplowski, this album features a diverse and creative group of musicians with widely eclectic interests. From punk to heavy metal, salsa, jazz, world music, and even classical tuba, La Lucha melds their energies and unique musical and cultural backgrounds to create their sound. This is evident in their original compositions as well as the choice of cover material, including Latin American styles, American Songbook standards, and self-described ‘twisted arrangements’ of pop tunes.

Having grown up in very different parts of the world with varied musical influences permeates throughout the music. “We find that jazz is the perfect vehicle for those differences to meld together, due to the freedom that exists within it. There is also a wonderful human and musical coexistence within La Lucha and that gives us a joy that sets the tone of what we do.”

With a name meaning ‘the fight or struggle,’ La Lucha positively reminds the audience to overcome whatever one needs, including the obstacles found in living with a commitment to an artistic life.