Oneness of Juju has been described as the missing link between Pharoah Sanders and Kool & the Gang. Originally known as Juju, it began as a collective of musicians traversing the politically active, spiritual and free jazz communities of the Bay Area and New York City. By the mid-'70s however, under the formal leadership of saxophonist James “Plunky” Branch and re-christened Oneness of Juju, the group partnered with Washington, DC, independent label Black Fire Records and began to brilliantly emphasize the funk underpinnings of their sound. Albums such as _Chapter Two: Nia_, _African Rhythms_ and _Space Jungle Luv_ have long been coveted by record collectors and DJs. On the occasion of these recordings' reissue, Plunky joins Chairman Jefferson Mao to discuss a career that is both a study and a celebration of creative independence.
