Oneness Of Juju “African Rhythms”

Oneness Of Juju

“African Rhythms”
( 2xLP Strut Records, Reissue, 2002 )
Catalog # STRUTLP 027

Tracklisting:
A1 – African Rhythms (7:17)
A2 – Kazi (4:20)
A3 – Funky Wood (1:13)
B1 – Tarishi (3:55)
B2 – Mashariki (3:22)
B3 – Chants (1:14)
B4 – Don’t Give Up (5:41)
C1 – Incognito (8:10)
C2 – Poo Too (3:43)
D1 – Liberation Dues (4:34)
D2 – Liberation Dues (Instrumental) (8:40)

Personnel & Credits:
Arranged By – Oneness Of Juju
Bass [Fender Bass], Percussion, Vocals – Muzi Nkabinde
Clavinet, Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Piano, Percussion, Vocals – Al Hammel Rasul
Congas, Drums, Balophone, Percussion, Vocals – Babatunde
Drums – Ronnie Toler
Producer – Jimmy Gray
Saxophone [Tenor], Saxophone [Soprano], Saxophone [Electric], Flute, Percussion, Vocals, Producer – Plunky Nkabinde
Vibraphone, Marimbas – Lon Moshe
Vocals – Eka-Ete Jackie Lewis

Notes:
Recorded at Bias Recording Studios, Falls Church, Virginia.
This re-issue is fully re-mastered from source tapes.
Originally released 1975

Review:
A landmark of Afro-centric jazz in the 70s — and the first album by this famous underground collective! Oneness of Juju were a Washington DC-based group that grew out of the ashes of the Juju avant jazz ensemble formed in the culturally rich African-American community of DC in the 70s, with spiritual and political aspirations that stretched far beyond the average funky combo. This first album is a masterful blend of percussion, jazz, and a slight bit of funk alternating vocal tracks with harder-hitting jazz instrumentals, all held together under the leadership of sax player Plunky Nakabinde. The album’s one of the greatest independent soul jazz albums of the 70s and it’s filled with great tracks, such as the breakbeat classic “African Rhythms” and “Liberation Dues”. Other titles include “Kazi”, “Funky Wood”, “Don’t Give Up”, “Poo Too”, and “Incognito”.
By Dusty Groove America

By Celo