Plunky & Oneness

J. Plunky Branch is another sax and production talent – a major one. His sound has been heard on The Cosby Show, on avant-garde albums by Pharaoh Sanders and 18 albums released though his own N.A.M.E. Brand label covering funk, reggae, African and jazz.
This is a nice jazzy outing and gets off to an optimistic start with Happiness Is, where the sax sound is already distinctive. On It Feels so Right and Come with Me, not only are the vocals well delivered but the lyrics are original with some clever rhyming in there. I found Forever my Love totally irresistible – it has a tough synth bass groove and though the drum sound is mechanical, this is funky stuff. The vocals are strong too.
Just Ahead and to the Left is another strong groove-led tune with loads of bass where the synth drum sounds work well. The doubled horn lines are very Candy Dullfer-like and this song, which is really a jam, must be dynamite live. The song I just cannot leave alone is Relax, We’re Among Friends – not only do I love that title but there’s in-the-pocket soprano sax blowing over a really strong melody. That bass is crisp and moves around just right – nice, nice, nice. Very cool. Summer’s coming – buy a copy of this and take some chairs outside.
- Smooth Jazz.com

Oneness of JuJu
Space Jungle Luv
Strut
Formed in 1971 (and still going strong) Oneness of JuJu was the brainchild of saxophonist J. Plunky Branch. Like many others on the legendary Strata East label, Oneness mixed R&B, free jazz, afro-Brazilian percussion and down-home funk with an upbeat spiritual message, earning them a place in many a DJ’s vinyl box in the process.

Space Jungle Luv emerged in 1976 (a year after the classic African Rhythms set) and marked a distinct change of direction for Plunky and co. Their feet were still in the ghetto, but this time they were looking at the stars; headed up by the strong, sweet vocal stylings of Jacqueline Holman (aka Lady Eka-Ete) and Branch’s often effects drenched saxophones, this is cosmic dancefloor jazz of the first water.

Space Jungle Luv opens with the loose limbed latin drift of "River Luv Rite", and moves through the deep, soulful funk of "Follow Me" to the Pharoah Sanders-esque "Soul Love Now" (pianist Joe Bonner was a member of Oneness for this set, and Branch had appeared on Pharoah's Wisdom of Music album).

"Space Jungle Funk" does what it says on the tin; Branch’s heavily processed tenor snakes, squelches and squeals its way through a zero gravity slice of flanged ambient jazz funk. "The Connection" offers more earthbound grooves; here Branch’s tenor is electronically ghosted into a bass clarinet and moog synth orchestra over Ronnie Toler’s pushy funk drums and guitarist Melvin Glover’s muted wah chords. Glover shines on the beautiful "Love’s Messenger" with a sweet toned, thoughtful solo, while "Bootsie’s Lament" showcases Holman’s sublime vocal over Branch’s rainforest flutes and afro percussion stylings.

The missing link between Kool and the Gang (70s vintage) and the deep jazz of Pharoah Sanders, Gary Bartz and the like, this is a must for any self respecting collection…Branch out !

Reviewer: Peter Marsh


...the missing link between Kool and the Gang (70s vintage) and the deep jazz of Sanders, Gary Bartz and the like, this is a must for any self respecting collection...
- Peter Marsh

JazzTimes
AMERICA’S JAZZ MAGAZINE – May, 2003
currents
cd reviews by Lucy Tauss


With Got to Move Something (N.A.M.E.), Afro-funk veterans Plunky & Oneness (formerly Oneness of Juju) offer a prodigious helping of the multistylistic sound and optimistic perspective on life. Led by saxophonist-vocalist-composer J. Plunky Branch, the group performs an irresistible blend of jazz, funk, R&B, hip-hop and more on this two-CD set. Disc one’s collection of instrumentals and vocal tunes includes such highlights as the grooving, electronica-meets-funk title track, celebrations of love on “You Make It Happen” and “The Reasons I adore You” and the uplifting message that love and enlightenment will triumph over hate on “Everything Is Gonna Be Alright.” Recorded during a concert last summer in Atlanta, disc two documents the band’s electrifying live show. Included are several tunes from disc one, as well as older tracks such as the funky jam “African Rhythms,” the gloriously lyrical “African Sunset” and the reggae time “Be About the Future,” which incorporates a bit of Bob Marley’s “Get Up Stand Up.” If the performances on these two discs don’t get you up and moving, well then, nothing will.
- JazzTimes - America's Jazz Magazine

RAPPORT MAGAZINE
Review

***
Plunky & Oneness
Saxy Mellow Moments

Plunky Branch, Tonya Lazenby, Anthony Ingram, Asante, Kevin Davis, Ronnie Cokes, Jamiah Branch, Kevin Teasley, Herbert ‘Hop’ Pollard, Chris Beasley, P. Muzi Branch, Ras Mel Glover. N.A.M.E. Brand Records.

It’s very rare that one finds a CD that can be listened to without programming the order, or skipping certain songs. Saxy Mellow Moments is one of those entrancing rarities.
Although every song can stand on it’s own merit as a winner, together they make for tender moments by candlelight, firelight, or moonlight. The first track, The Son Also Rises, is a dreamy number that escalates with faint echoes of Plunky’s sax in the background, and then continues with percussion, guitar and keyboards while Plunky catches his breath. The following track, By Special Request, is an up-tempo number, that starts where the previous track ended, but without the dreamy effects. Such continuity is displayed throughout the album as each song takes you further into the moment. Do Drop Inn is another up-tempo winner with P. Muzi Branch holding the group steady with a captivating bass line. Where Do Drop Inn left off, I-95 North starts, and goes and goes and goes, making you sway and snap. The most meditative piece on the album, The Open Door brings to mind the movement of waves, much like the album itself in its sequencing. Saxy Mellow Moments closes with Mellow Celestial Blues, which combines chime-like sounds of the midi horn bells, soprano sax and Ras Mel Glover slight strumming guitar.
In upcoming years, many children will owe their conception to this album. Plunky holds each note for just the right amount of time. He never gives too much, or too little. Plunky and Oneness have succeeded in defining ‘mellow’. - F.M.C.
- Rapport Magazine

WHAT CRITICS SAY...

"Spending an evening with Plunky and the Oneness is spending an evening full of festive carnivals and romantic wonder... The best part was knowing that even if you were a jazz fan, a devout R&B listener or a rapper, you would be thoroughly satisfied. Plunky & Oneness is a must-see." - Beat Premier Magazine

"..some of the more intriguing arrangements... combine African percussion, sax and electronics in a refreshing and sometimes exotic fashion" - Mike Joyce, The Washington Post

"... nothing less than brilliant and exciting!" - Virginian Review

"[Opening the Hampton Jazz Festival] Plunky and his seven piece ensemble captivated the audience and established a momentum for all other artists to follow." - The Richmond Afro-American

"The Richmond-based group turned out to be an excellent choice for the occasion, since the spirit of celebration was an infectious force in its music" - The Virginia Gazette

"Equally at home on tenor and soprano saxophone, Plunky leads with a driving attack and a rocking, fiery, blues-oriented inventiveness in solos that seems to inspire increasing crunch from an already blasting back-up group." The Charleston, S.C. News & Courier


WHAT EDUCATORS SAY...

"What a terrific performance you gave... I was overwhelmed be the myriad of compliments from our patrons on the quality of the performance and the energy of the musicians." - Mount Aloysius College, Pennsylvania

"I was particularly impressed by your talent and your natural ability to educate our youngsters about our musical heritage." - Middle School Principal

"The presentation of the history of jazz with emphasis on the Harlem Renaissance was excellent and complimented our study in the classroom. The students and teachers were enthusiastic about the program and teachers have been asking if we could schedule a similar program next year." - Supervisor of Social Studies

"The lecture demonstration was one of the best we have had. You had a good balance of explanation and musical examples in developing the topic..." Milligan College Arts Council

"Their music and their message was very impressive." Elementary School Principal

"You were a breath of fresh air. You held our students spellbound." - Elementary School Principal

"For several days afterward, the students and staff were commenting on how enlightening the program was on African musical heritage." - Middle School Principal

"The students in the course are asked to write a journal entry for each presentation... Every one of the 28 entries on "Plunky" glowed with good feelings and energy... Not only were you able to convey a great deal of information in a short period of time, more importantly you were able to convey your enthusiasm and passion for the subject... which has sparked some real interest in the students." - Faculty Director, Longwood College

"It is obvious that you were thoroughly prepared and knew just how to customize your presentations to a faculty not too familiar with teaching African and African-American Music from a wholistic perspective." - Savannah State College Dean


- Various