Made Through Ritual

Made Through Ritual is a new chapter in the six decade legacy of Plunky & Oneness of Juju. Leader James "Plunky" Branch, has overseen many lineups. Since 2002, his son, producer, drum machine wizard, trumpeter and percussionist Jamiah "Fire" Branch has been aboard. He grew up with Jamal Gray, son of legendary DJ, producer and concert promoter Jimmy Gray, who co-founded the storied Black Fire label with Plunky. Jimmy died in 1999; Jamal was 13. Now a well known hip hop producer, percussionist, keyboardist, and sampling master, hes also a fine rapper. He founded the spiritual jazz hip hop band Nag Champa Art Ensemble. Plunky heard great things about the band and drove to DC to see them in 2017. He was impressed. Then he heard Jamals Godspeed mixtape, and vowed to collaborate with him. It took years for that to happen, as healing around the end of Black Fire and other interpersonal and business matters took time to work through–it has all been made right. Gray ultimately sent Jamiah a folder containing 60 beats. Working from demos created by Jamal who used original jazz samples, Plunky took the tracks and re-interpreted arrangements for live musicians, while Jamiah sequenced beats, layered samples, added key instrumental grooves, adding drum machines for added depth. Plunkys reeds, woodwinds, kalimba and charts cemented what is simultaneously a deconstruction and reconstruction of jazz, in a holistic vision. Other musicians here include drummer Tony Green, Ghanaian percussionist Okyerema Asante, keyboardist Brian Jackson, guitarist / bassist / percussionist Ras Mel Glover (Melvin Glover. Jr.) with longtime vocalists Charlayne "Chyp" Green and Jackie Eka-E. Opener "Share This Love" is a spiritual soul groover with gorgeous vocals by Green and Eka-E. Languid beats, bass, saxes and flutes surround killer dropbeats on the title cut around a theme, that weds Mandrill-esque funk, and Kudu-era Grover Washington Jr. and Herbie Hancock-esque (ala Mwandishi) modal keys atop layered kalimbas and ambience. "In Due Time," is a labyrinthine Afro-Latin spiritual funk jam with hypnotic, (nearly psychedelic) saxes carrying the vamp buoyed by electric piano, dueling trap kits and an unruly bassline. "Free Spirit" is built around a deep hand drum rhythm. Pianos, vibes, a slowly pulsing bassline frame Plunkys soprano sax offering vamps and a killer solo using circular breathing." "Shades of Light" is progressive with a glorious flute -led melody, layered hand drums and elegantly sampled beats, it weds contemporary jazz and spiritual soul. A syncopated yet pulsing key-bass leads the narcotic intro on "Broad Street Dust." Jacksons electric piano governs the vamp, its framed by taut, riff driven saxes and Jamiahs trumpet as Jamal strips it down with dubwise production strategies, then segueing into the eerie yet elegant abstract yet melodic improvising by the band. Closer "Children of the Drum" offers culturally astute political and social commentary in the spoken word poetry of Roscoe Burnem atop hip-hop inspired jazz funk. In part and as a whole, Made Through Ritual is startlingly fine as a fully realized return of renewal, inspiration and skill. ~ Thom Jurek