Album Notes

ROOTS PROPAGANDA has been played on NPR's Morning Edition and All Things Considered, and was the Global Hit for PRI's 'The World' program in August 2008!


"From Delta blues to Afro-Cuban music to cumbia, The Paul Carlon Octet plays roots music from a jazz perspective. On Roots Propaganda (Deep Tone) the end result flows naturally. There's a contagious, warm vintage feel resonating from this recording that I found to be very inviting."
-- Lissette Corsa, Global Groove Connection

"This second octet album from saxophonist Paul Carlon pops with original compositions influenced by musics from around the world. Carlon and his players have succeeded in this attempt at "making roots music through a jazz lens," delivering 12 tracks that incorporate styles ranging from blues and big band to spiritual chants, call and response, and the click-clack of tap, to name but a few. Trombone, sax, trumpet, and flute take the fore, bursting forth exuberantly on every track"
--Shannon Holiday, Goodsound.com

"Live, the band’s Latin influences really came to the forefront: as thoughtful and remarkably multistylistic as saxist Paul Carlon’s compositions are, this was a fullblown party with a lot of good songs. It may seem painfully obvious to say, but tonight was a vivid reminder of why a good band is always worth checking out to see what they can deliver live..." -- LucidCulture.com


Building on the success of Other Tongues, their 2006 debut, The Paul Carlon Octet returns with this searing, funky, far-ranging exploration of roots music North and South of the border. Encompassing Afro-Cuban chants, timba, Ellingtonian jazz, Brazilian Afro-Samba and Maracatú, blues and funk, Roots Propaganda draws on the extraordinary cohesiveness and individual talents of some of NYC’s best and brightest young jazz and world musicians, including Dave Smith, Ryan Keberle, Anton Denner, Mike Fahie, John Stenger, Edward Perez, and William Bausch. In addition, special guests vocalist Christelle Durandy, Rumbatap phenom Max Pollak, and guitarist Pete Smith (Hazmat Modine, Grupo los Santos) are featured throughout. The group has spent considerable time on the road since its debut release, extending its audience and honing its already deep groove.

Release Date: August 12, 2008 on Deep Tone Records (DT 003)