African Rhythms 1970-1982

Description

A comprehensive 3LP compilation of Oneness Of Juju, led by Plunky J. Branch.

Tracing their career from the band’s earliest work in 1970 with South African exiled jazzman Ndikho Xaba in San Francisco, the compilation covers the band’s journey to New York’s loft jazz scene, forming Juju and releasing two landmark albums of hard-hitting percussive jazz on Strata-East. “I saw myself as a cultural warrior,” explains Plunky. “We studied about Africa and tried to infuse our music with an African spirit.” Moving back to his hometown of Richmond, Virginia during the mid-‘70s, Plunky drew in a superb new group of musicians and vocalists and created the band’s new incarnation, Oneness Of Juju, retaining the African influence but fusing his sound with funk and R’n’B on the classic ‘African Rhythms’ album. “We realised that, if we put a backbeat to the Afro-Cuban rhythms, people in Richmond and Washington D.C. could be drawn into it; it didn’t change anything about our message.” The change would lead to a series of enduring soul-jazz classics on Jimmy Gray’s Black Fire label, including ‘River Luv Rite’, ‘Plastic’ and ‘Don’t Give Up’ and their biggest crossover international hit, ‘Every Way But Loose’ in 1982, later famously remixed by Larry Levan. The band received renewed interest in their music during the mid-‘80s as Washington D.C.’s go-go innovators cited the band as a major influence and rare groove DJs revived their albums for London dancefloors.

‘African Rhythms 1970-1982’ reprises a compilation released on Strut in 2001 and is newly remastered by Frank Merritt at The Carvery. Features a 12” sized 4pp booklet featuring rare photos and a comprehensive interview with Plunky Branch within liner notes by Chris Menist.

Audio Player

Oneness Of JujuAfrican Rhythms

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African Rhythms Oneness Of Juju 2:00
Follow Me Oneness Of Juju 2:00
Nooky Oneness Of Juju 2:00
River Luv Rite Oneness Of Juju 2:00
No Name #3/Love Is/My N*Gg*... Roach Om 2:00
Nairobi/Chants Juju 2:00
Chants/Don't Give Up Oneness Of Juju 2:00
Be About The Future Oneness Of Juju 2:00
Got To Be Right On It Juju & The Space Ranger 2:00
Space Jungle Funk Oneness Of Juju 2:00
West Wind Oneness Of Juju 2:00
Plastic Juju & The Space Rangers 2:00
Every Way But Loose Plunky & Oneness Of Juju 2:00
Sabi Okyerema Asante 2:00
Asante Sana Okyerema Asante 2:00
Bootsie's Lament Oneness Of Juju 2:00