- Paul Cebar

Paul Cebar has been a primary investigator
and promulgator of funky Afro-Carib-inflected
Americana since the ‘80’s.... Cebar stays vital,
putting his good foot forward from Green Bay
to Baltimore to the Big Easy.
TOM CHEYNEY | LA WEEKLY, JULY 2003
Jubilant, percussive… full-on, pan-ethnic
party music.
PAMELA MURRAY WINTERS | WASHINGTON POST, AUGUST 2003
Some regionalists are dreamers, and while this
group of rhythm rounders is situated in Wisconsin, their hearts are somewhere in the fifth
ward of New Orleans. They put a lively spin on
all sorts of American strains, from second-line
to funk to zydeco and they do it with a load of
whimsy.
PAUL CEBAR has steadfastly pursued a musical concatenation that is one
part early R&B, another Pan-African Lilt, Afro-Cuban by way of New Orleans
Slither, qualified by Mid-Western Soul and further distinguished by a gargantuan regard for spoken English.
TOMMOROW SOUND NOW FOR YES MUSIC PEOPLE, the newest addition
to the Cebar catalog, boasts both the open-hearted spontaneous soulfulness we’ve come to expect from this dedicated musician (Who Can Love
Who?, The Same Dog, Marv’s Fluttering Guitar, I’m Qualified) and wildheaded, crazyquilt conjuring (Knock It To Me, Like A Gentleman Oughta,
Spread That Sugar) that feels like a bold contemporary invigoration of the
inviting verities he has always explored. There’s the meaty Hey Hey Honey, a
delightful a capella nod to Alan Lomax and his recording of Norfolk’s Bright
Lights Quartet, a tender tribute to Sierra Leone’s King of Palmwine Music,
S.E. Rogie in his Do Me Justice, and Paul’s glorious homage to guitarist Marv
Tarplin, Smokey Robinson’s right hand man for the last 40 years, Marv’s Fluttering Guitar. Add the classic New Orleans swagger of I Got Trouble (replete
with Cebar’s Jessie Hill-inspired tambourine machinations) and the storming
plea for tenderness The Gimp Sparrow (richly reflecting the influence of
Paul’s travels in Cuba, Brazil and Trinidad), and it’s clear that this is a romp of
colossal heart and scope.
...the best batch yet of of an
The years since the release
endangered strain of fortified,
of the last studio album have
intensified, fully jacked-up,
been spent touring continually and intensifying the fervor
roaring, and exceedingly
with which Cebar has always
personal music-making from
infused his music. The guitar
tones have taken on an edgier, a singular Midwestern master.
more distinctive concision.
Longtime cohort Bob Jennings comes to the fore on organ and horns in his
sneakily apt and piquant less-is-more-ism. Drummer Reggie Bordeaux is
simply a stone joy throughout lifting all and sundry to new heights of funk
and drive. Bassist Patrick Patterson lays it low and mean in a thoroughly
righteous display of bone-deep musicality. Percussionist Romero Beverly
insinuates, articulates and pitches a veritable storm (witness Her New
Church why don’tcha!!).
From the Hot Chocolate meets Latin Playboys skank of How’d You Get Like
That? to the stately Muscle Shoals balladry of I’m Qualified, featuring Nick
Lowe’s brotherly back-up vocals, TOMMOROW SOUND NOW FOR YES MUSIC
PEOPLE is the best batch yet of of an endangered strain of fortified, intensified, fully jacked-up, roaring and exceedingly personal music-making from a
singular Midwestern master. It may be time for all sorts of things, but it is high
time for Paul Cebar. He has been, is, and will be the real doggone deal.
JIM MACNIE | THE VILLAGE VOICE, 2002
RECORDING HISTORY
1981 GET A MOVE ON ep (Just Think) w/The R&B Cadets
1982BABY IT’S COLD OUTSIDE/OUTSKIRTS OF YOU single
w/Claudia Schmidt
1986 TOP HAPPY (Twintone) The R&B Cadets
1993 THAT UNHINGED THING (Shanachie) w/The Milwaukeeans
1995 U
PSTROKE FOR THE DOWNFOLK (Don’t) w/The Milwaukeeans (14,000 sold, reissued in 2001 on Groovesburg Joys)
1996 I CAN’T DANCE FOR YOU ep (Don’t) w/The Milwaukeeans
1997 T
HE GET-GO (Don’t) w/The Milwaukeeans (13,000 sold,
reissued in 2001 on Groovesburg Joys)
2001 SUCHAMUCH (Groovesburg Joys) (self-released live album
– 4,000 sold)
In recent years Cebar has had the pleasure of co-writing with
the likes of Cesar Rosas (Los Lobos), Terence Simien (Zydeco
Experience), Peter Mulvey, Pat McLaughlin, Chuck Mead (BR549),
Willie Porter, Jeffrey Haynes (Cassandra Wilson), and the
inimitable fallen King Of Zydeco, Boozoo Chavis.
Cebar has had TripleA radio attention on past projects. Some of
the stations that have played him include: WXRT-Chicago, WXPNPhiladelphia, WRNR-Annapolis, KFOG-San Francisco, WYEP-Pittsburgh, WNKU-Cincinatti, WYCE-Grand Rapids, WFUV-New York,
KMTT-Seattle, WDET-Detroit, WUWM-Milwaukee, KINK-Portland,
WFPK-Louisville, WRSI-Greenfield, MA, WKZE-Sharon, CT, WLPWLake Placid, WMWV-Conway, NH, WIIS-Key West, WNCW-Charlotte, WRLT-Nashville, KERA-Dallas, KPFT-Houston, KSPN-Aspen,
KMTM-Jackson, KTAO-Taos, KRVN-Eugene, KLRQ-Kansas City,
KTHX-Reno, KRTM-Riverside
CONTACT:
prcebar@mac.com | paulcebar.com | 414 273 4990