I think I became aware of Oneness of Juju through Africafunk compilation released by British label Harmless in the late 90s, but it might've been a different LP. Anyway, when I heard them I was very much into jazz-funk, afrobeat and afro-funk... and African Rhythms was like a thunder, that shook me to the bone!
And once I was under the spell I tried to spread the message, but to no avail... at least until I played it to one of my friends in London, who got it straight away, and went to SoulJazz shop the day after to get herself a copy!
The story is funny, cause she went there with another friend, and as soon as they asked the shop assistant to play it, a bloke browsing through a stack of records raised his head and asked totally hazy: WHAT IS THIS? He bought his copy a minute later.
But as he was leaving, and my friends were still listening to the opening tune, another DJ/collector walked through the door, and he also knew he's just struck gold!
Needless to say, in the end they got the LP, and the guy was swift to get one too... such is the magic of African Rhythms.
But a few words about Oneness of Juju! They were founded in 1974 by James Plunky Branch aka. Plunky Nkabinde in his hometown, Richmond, VA, when musician finally emerged from the underground, where he was hiding from the FBI for a couple of years.
Their debut was inspired by Africanism, teachings of Nation of Islam, loft jazz (particularly, the music of Pharaoh Sanders, Antony Braxton and Ornette Coleman), and released in 1975 by ephemeral Black Fire Records.
Musically, the album is a wild medley of soul, r'n'b, afro-funk, jazz and ethnic pulse, but it really pops in this ritual, downtempo, cosmic anthem called African Rhythms, which features vocals of Lady Eka-Ete aka. Jackie Holoman-Lewis, whose timbre reminds me of Carla Thomas and Diana Ross rolled into one!
You don't know that yet, but you're in for a real treat here!
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