Plunky & The Oneness Of Juju

Plunky & Oneness of Juju are an extended incarnation of spiritual soul-jazz legends Oneness of Juju. Absent from recording for three decades, OoJ leader/saxophonist/percussionist James "Plunky" Branch caught the Nag Champa Art Ensemble in Washington, D.C. The band, known for blending elements of jazz, soul, hip-hop, and go-go, was founded and led by Jamal Gray, the producer, rapper, and multi-instrumentalist scion of Branch's late business partner Jimmy Gray (they co-founded the Black Fire label). He also recruited his son, producer and longtime collaborator Jamiah “Fire” Branch. The band's M.O. was to deconstruct and reconstruct musical ideas combining Jamal's extensive sampling from original jazz sources, then (re)sequencing them with live improvisation. The trio merged in the studio, using multi-track recording schemes to craft intricate harmonies and arrangements. In July 2025, they released Made Through Ritual and toured Europe.