Results for "Oneness of Juju"

ARTICLE: YEAR IN REVIEW December 22, 2020

John Pietaro's "Test" Of 2020

It would be a fool's errand in a covid-damaged society to attempt a peaceably gathered year's end “Best of" list, in jazz or any other genre or medium. But artists of jazz and all avant gardes have been especially susceptible to the considerable financial ebbing and health concerns of this period. Discussing this concept with my ...

ARTICLE: ALBUM REVIEW July 27, 2020

Various Artists: Soul Love Now: The Black Fire Records Story 1975-1993

By CHRIS MAY

The significance of this superb compilation is summed up by a fuzzy b&w photo inside the twenty-eight page accompanying booklet. It shows Oneness Of Juju gathered round a twenty-foot replica of the Statue of Liberty in their hometown, Richmond, Virginia in 1976. You can just make out the expressions of optimism and, yes, patriotism on the ...

ARTICLE: ALBUM REVIEW July 10, 2020

Oneness Of Juju: African Rhythms 1970-1982

By GARETH THOMPSON

Growing up in segregated Richmond, Virginia, the first creative love of James Branch's life was chemistry. Which seems fitting enough given all the musical compounds he would later contrive. As a performer, Branch started out with woodwind before latching onto sax at Columbia University, New York. Also immersed in left wing politics, he moved to California ...

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