Carlos Jones-lead vocals, rhythm guitar, niyabinghi drums/ Will Douglas-drums/ Cholly O-bass/ Dan Shramo-lead guitar, vocals/ Peter Platten- keys, vocals/ Roy Isaacs-niyabinghi, percussion/ Bob Caruso-congas, percussion/ Curt Johnson-congas, percussion
Influences
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
Martin Luther King, Jr.
My musical influences are: James Brown, Bob Marley & The Wailers,
Stevie Wonder, John Lennon, The Beatles, Santana, Culture,
Burning Spear, Black Uhuru, Bunny Wailer, Peter Tosh, Third World,
Ras Pidow, The Rastafari Elders, Ras Michael & The Sons of Negus,
Count Ossie & The Mystic Revelation of Rastafari, Wingless Angels,
Steel Pulse, The Skatalites, Lee "Scratch" Perry, The Abyssinians,
The Melodians, The Naturalites, The Heptones, Augustus Pablo,
Studio One, Dennis Brown, Pablo Moses, Israel Vibration, Wailing Souls,
Soul Syndicate, U- Roy, Big Youth, Luciano, Mutabaruka,
Linton Kwesi Johnson, Sly & Robbie, Osibisa, Mandrill, Tito Puente,
War, Gil Scott-Heron, Sly & The Family Stone, Earth, Wind & Fire,
Grover Washington Jr., George Clinton & Parliament/Funkadelic,
Prince, Motown, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Michael Jackson
The Jackson Five, The Neville Brothers, The Meters, Kool & The Gang,
The Ohio Players, Phil Collins, Genesis, Pink Floyd, Tracy Chapman,
James Taylor, The Grateful Dead, Donny Hathaway, Youssou N'Dour,
and so many more...
The Rhythm Child Network!
Sounds Like
The reggae music that came out of the mid to late seventies, when real musicians played real instruments, and singers sang about Rastafari consciousness, roots and reality. This music is from the heart and soul, and remains close to the earth even as it reaches for the heavens. A variety of hand drums and percussion are used to lay the foundation, and very often acoustic guitar can be heard blending in with the electric guitars and keys. At times you can find touches of gospel influences, as well as folk music and R&B. PLUS is one of the few bands that will strip everything away to reveal the basic foundation of the rhythm, which is played on the Niyabinghi drums, and offer a simple meditative chant to uplift the soul. Giving thanks and praises to The Most High!
If you’re really a big fan of Carlos and his band and follow them everywhere, they’ve put together an opportunity for you to go someplace a little more exciting than Cleveland: Negril, Jamaica.
In the tradition of the old rock and reggae shows Jones’ former band First Light used to do with Jim Miller’s jam-band Oroboros in the ’80s and ’90s, PLUS got together with Columbus jammers Ekoostik Hookah and came up with Jamrock2010.
The two will host a tour from April 17-24 that features three outdoor concerts with both bands plus an informal acoustic bonfire jam session with fans invited to bring their instruments and join in. Packages, which include round-trip airfare, airport transfers, hotel and shows, start at $839. You can find more info here.
http://www.jamrock2010.com/
The new CD, "Leave A Trail" is now available at www.littlefishrecords.com!
The “iron-man” of the reggae scene in Cleveland, Ohio is without question, Carlos Jones.
Carlos’ journey is a history of Cleveland reggae itself. He started out as a sideman (percussion/vocals) with the band, I-Tal in the late 70’s, then went on to be the front man for the rock/reggae group, First Light for 14 years. Now Carlos fronts the Peace Love Unity Syndicate, aka The PLUS Band, focusing on rootsier sounds and uplifting positive messages.
In April of 2004, the band’s first full length CD, Roots With Culture was released after much anticipation and it did not disappoint. Described in The Beat magazine as “a powerful, 14-track collection of slinky grooves and thundering bass lines, Roots With Culture delivers a message of peace and harmony, with Jones’ heartfelt vocals leading the way, all wrapped in a production that can stand up to the best of them.” “It will undoubtedly, over time, become a staple in most reggae collections.” (Chuck Foster - Reggae Update, The Beat Magazine – Vol. 24, no.1, June 2005)
Since their humble beginnings in 1998, Carlos, and his Peace, Love, Unity Syndicate (the PLUS Band) have matured as songwriters, musicians and performers, giving energetic and uplifting performances for an ever-expanding following, which spans generations.
They have been voted “best of” in their category every year in the Scene and Free Times Music Awards, including being voted Best Live Act (overall) in Cleveland at the 2004 Scene Music Awards. And in 2007 The group was awarded permanent "All Star" status in the Free Times Music Awards, thus basically “retiring their number”. The PLUS Band maintains a hectic pace of gigging out at clubs, private events and festivals - playing 3-4 shows nearly every week. As a result, the band's soulful rhythms and heartfelt message have made it one of Cleveland's top draws for more than a decade.
The band just released its second full length CD, Leave A Trail this year, and some of Carlos’ music is also featured on the soundtrack of a film which recently premiered at The Sundance Film Festival called North Starr. When asked about his plans for the future, he’ll simply tell you, “The future is right now. I just want to keep on playing this music from my heart for as long as I’m able to, and keep the positive vibration flowing for all those who can dig it, ya know? As long as I can continue to do what I love, what more could I want out of life?”
The PLUS band’s official website is www.carlosjones.com
They are also featured on these sites:
This is to all of my P.L.U.S., FIRST LIGHT and ITAL friends, and to all believers in the ONE LOVE vibration. The Irie vibes started way back in 1978, after having been blessed to see Bob Marley perform live here in Cleveland. The fire caught in my soul and inspired me to want to play JAH music and carry the message of Peace, Love and Unity to my brothers and sisters wherever I can. Since that time, I've had the privilege of sharing the stage with many of the greats: The Skatalites, The Wailers, Culture, The Meditations, Peter Tosh, Black Uhuru, The Mighty Diamonds, Burning Spear, Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers, Julian & Damien Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Mutabaruka, Steel Pulse and many others. Reggae music is like the blood in my veins and the air that I breathe. I am just one of many who feel that JAH LOVE is the way, and want to do my small part to keep the flame burning and the roots alive.
The Peace Love Unity Syndicate (PLUS Band) is on a mission to preserve the true spirit of roots reggae music; music that speaks from the heart and resonates in the soul. The vibration takes hold of your spirit and compels you to dance. It's the universal vibration that unites one and all in its loving embrace and forces the barriers we construct between us to come crashing down, so we can see that we truly are ALL ONE!
The HEARTBEAT is the drum; the underlying pulse that synchronizes us with the rhythms of all life and the movements of the universe. It is what calls to us to forget the superficial constraints of our imaginary boundaries, forget the differences that separate us, and tune in to the primal roots that we all share. That is where reggae comes from; not so much geographically, but spiritually. I have been blessed to be able to somehow interpret and channel this vibration to people of all walks of life for going on 30 years now, and it feels so good to say that this is my life's work. It also really pleases me to see that the seeds that were planted by those who have gone before us have taken root, and are growing and spreading all over the world, spawning new and fresh recruits in JAH's army. The reggae fiya is burning hot!! And the state of JAH music is strong.
So forget your troubles and dance! It's still very much alive in the hearts of conscious people. And no matter how hard babylon's corrupt system tries to fight down and suppress our consciousness, we see and know the truth, and will speak it. We will beat the drums and chant the Niyabinghi and praise The Most High, JAH RASTAFARI!! The Truth is The Light. Keep the fiya blazing bright. Reggae music lives on forever! One Love, One Heart!
Peace and Love,
Carlos
Carlos Jones & The PLUS Band's Friend Space (Top 40)
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