Thirty years into his reggae adventure, Carlos Jones is thinking about his legacy. The title track of the new Carlos Jones and the P.L.U.S. Band CD says it all: Leave A Trail (Little Fish Records). The theme of leaving behind a positive message for others to follow runs throughout the disc, from explorations of the genre’s roots ("Where Reggae Comes From?") and Jones’ musical origins ("Rhythm Child") to inspirational anthems for future listeners ("Step Forward," "Use Your Voice").
It is my desire to leave something of worth behind.
If one person feels a little better about themselves
or their neighbor, or wants to do something good
in their little piece of the world
because of a song on this album,
then that’s better than any award you can hang on a wall.
-- Peace through music; if only we could all get it.
-Carlos Jones
Carlos Jones and the P.L.U.S. Band (Peace Love and Unity Syndicate) are doing something good in their little piece of the world. The Cleveland-based eight piece is known and loved by fans on the regional reggae circuit for its uplifting and infectious live shows. It’s a vibe that translates directly onto the laidback grooves of the new recording, thanks to the passion of producer Jacob Fader of local afrobeat combo Mifune.
Fader convinced the band to forgo conventional studio tricks and what Jones calls "my need to overproduce," instead convening in the producer’s home studio to lay down the tracks live, with added spice provided by Mifune’s very funky horn section. The goal was to replicate the relaxed and natural interaction that takes place between the P.L.U.S. Band and its audience in a club setting - to catch lightning in a bottle.
It took two days but the casual marathon worked, producing 12 cuts of trademark sing-along melodies, rich rootsy arrangements and heavy rhythms - Jones started as a drummer and the band has three percussionists. "The recording really captures what we sound like when the ‘magic’ happens," Jones says.
But the fun in the music masks lyrics that, in the reggae tradition, urge listeners to work for peace and unity and embrace social responsibility. In fact, the album’s title Leave A Trail may speak to higher virtues, but it was inspired simply by the trails of litter left around Jones’ favorite local park.
The message you have to deliver is not always
a happy, shiny one. Our music is great to dance to,
but we also give the audience some serious things
to think about. A mystical and spiritual vibration
comes across in the rhythms of the music,
and it is able to cut across so many lines of
race, class, age and religion, and bring people together.
Jones says that’s what first drew him to reggae three decades ago, and what he sees at their live show every night. The band hopes to extend that vibe beyond the reach of its own performances through the live feel of Leave A Trail - and to bring the reggae home with a special tour of Jamaica, April 2010.
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If one person feels a little better about themselves
or their neighbor, or wants to do something good
in their little piece of the world
because of a song on this album,
then that’s better than any award you can hang on a wall.
-- Peace through music; if only we could all get it.
-Carlos Jones
Carlos Jones and the P.L.U.S. Band (Peace Love and Unity Syndicate) are doing something good in their little piece of the world. The Cleveland-based eight piece is known and loved by fans on the regional reggae circuit for its uplifting and infectious live shows. It’s a vibe that translates directly onto the laidback grooves of the new recording, thanks to the passion of producer Jacob Fader of local afrobeat combo Mifune.
Fader convinced the band to forgo conventional studio tricks and what Jones calls "my need to overproduce," instead convening in the producer’s home studio to lay down the tracks live, with added spice provided by Mifune’s very funky horn section. The goal was to replicate the relaxed and natural interaction that takes place between the P.L.U.S. Band and its audience in a club setting - to catch lightning in a bottle.
It took two days but the casual marathon worked, producing 12 cuts of trademark sing-along melodies, rich rootsy arrangements and heavy rhythms - Jones started as a drummer and the band has three percussionists. "The recording really captures what we sound like when the ‘magic’ happens," Jones says.
But the fun in the music masks lyrics that, in the reggae tradition, urge listeners to work for peace and unity and embrace social responsibility. In fact, the album’s title Leave A Trail may speak to higher virtues, but it was inspired simply by the trails of litter left around Jones’ favorite local park.
a happy, shiny one. Our music is great to dance to,
but we also give the audience some serious things
to think about. A mystical and spiritual vibration
comes across in the rhythms of the music,
and it is able to cut across so many lines of
race, class, age and religion, and bring people together.
Jones says that’s what first drew him to reggae three decades ago, and what he sees at their live show every night. The band hopes to extend that vibe beyond the reach of its own performances through the live feel of Leave A Trail - and to bring the reggae home with a special tour of Jamaica, April 2010.
<- Back to Projects
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