Plunky & Oneness of Juju: Make a Change

1980's Make a Change marks the completion of the transition Plunky Branch was making from avant-jazz (as was the case on his early 1970s band Juju) to radio-friendly R&B and funk. That's not to say that there aren't some jazzy moments, but the jazz takes a back seat on this outing. The title track even manages to work in some reggae influences. The track "Every Way But Loose" would become a minor hit in the clubs and on the R&B charts in 1982, and sends the message that in addition to becoming more aware, these cats want to make you partay! "Run Away Bay" and "Love's Wonderland" would be considered "smooth jazz" today. Many of the tracks remind me of what bands like Earth Wind & Fire were doing at the time. Jazz purists won't groove on this, but those who don't mind exploring something with an R&B edge will find plenty to love.

Personnel:
Plunky Branch - Horns, Tenor Sax, Soprano Sax, Flute, Lead Vocals, Background Vocals
Muzi Branch - Bass, Background Vocals, Handclaps, Percussion
Ras Mel Glover Jr. - Lead Rhythm Guitars
Virtania "Cookie" Tillery - Lead Vocals, Background Vocals
Kevin Davis - Drums, Conga Drums, Timbales
Weldon Hill - Piano, Fender Rhodes, Synthesizers, Organ
Marcus Macklin - Rhythm Guitar
Eka Ete Jackie Lewis - Lead Vocals, Background Vocals
Okyerema Asante - Talking Drums
Judy Spears - Background Vocals
Veronica "Nilaya" Jones - Background Vocals
William "Bill" Joyner - Piano, Clavinet

Tracks:
1. Make A Change
2. Run Away Bay
3. Love's Wonderland
4. Every Way But Loose
5. Higher
6. Always Have To Say Good-Bye

From the liner notes:

The Oneness of Juju speaks of the unity of our magic, the togetherness of our purpose and the universality of our roots.

This music bridges several groupings who have performed as a family making changes, collectively creating music.

This album is dedicated to all those who have given themselves to make and/or support this music.

Thank you all, Plunky

Recorded at Omega Studios, Kensington, MD. Released on Black Fire Records, catalogue # BF19811).

This album would be re-released two years later on Sutra as Every Way But Loose, with a different track sequence, and an instrumental version of the title track added.

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Oneness of Juju: Bush Brothers & Space Rangers

Bush Brothers & Space Rangers, which is sometimes called Oneness of Juju's "lost" third album, was recorded in between Space Jungle Luv and Make a Change. It's a transitional album, with Plunky and crew continuing to deliver those spiritual and spirited kozmigroov jams, much as they had on 1975's African Rhythms and 1976's Space Jungle Luv. "Bootsie's Lament" is a gorgeous slow moving vocal number that makes me wonder why Ms. Lewis never quite had the fame that such contemporaries as Dee Dee Bridgewater had. The band reprises their signature tune "African Rhythms" with funkier percussion-laden instrumentation, and layers of vocals that make the end result more radical, more out there than the original version. "Rhythms Timelessness" is an instrumental that takes the basic "African Rhythms" theme and slows it down. "West Wind" has that atmospheric feel that would put it right at home with Herbie Hancock's early 1970s sextet, or Bennie Maupin's and Julian Priester's ECM albums from the decade. "Nooky" could have been an outtake from either of the first two Oneness of Juju albums. The band also does a couple covers - something a bit unusual - including a vocal version of Miles Davis classic "All Blues", and a cool version of George Benson's "Breezin'" that could have been radio-friendly (certainly for stations and DJs focused on R&B and Quiet Storm). What sets this particular album truly apart from its predecessors, though, is the presence of several fairly mainstream-sounding R&B numbers that foreshadow the band's minor early 1980s hit "Every Way But Loose." "Plastic" was the probable single, had this album had a proper release around 1978. That tune, along with "Be About the Future", "The Stuff to Make You Move", and "Get Your Head Together" are quite dancefloor friendly and certainly could have made the playlist of R&B stations. Plunky and crew were out to make a statement, and their positive message comes through loud and clear, and just as relevant three decades after their recording.

Personnel:
Plunky Branch - Tenor Sax, Soprano Sax, Flute, Shekere, Vocals
Eka Ete Jackie Lewis - Lead Vocals, Hand Percussion
Muzi Branch - Electric Bass, Shekere, Vocals, Arranger
Ras Mel Melvin Glover - Guitar, Shekere
Brian Jackson - Piano
Tony Green - Drums, Percussion
Okyerema Asante - African Drums, Log Drums, Bells, Percussion, Vocals
Judy Spears - Vocals
Peddie Maples - Congas, Vocals, Percussion

Tracks:
1. Breezin'
2. West Wind
3. African Rhythms
4. Be About the Future
5. Plastic (Is Easy to See Thru)
6. Nooky
7. All Blues
8. Afro Beat
9. Bootsie's Lament
10. Rhythms Timelessness
11. The Stuff to Make You Move
12. Get Your Head Together

Recorded September 6 1977 at Arrest Recording Studio, Washington DC.

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