Plunky Day in RVA at Dogwood Dell

James “Plunky” Branch has been an avatar and champion of the Richmond music scene for over half a century. He grew up in Richmond, left in the 1960s, and then returned after a picaresque odyssey through student demonstrations, the San Francisco counterculture, a brief stint in the military and even longer getting away from it.

(See his incredible biography, “Plunky,” for details.)

Along the way, he encountered innovative musicians and forged his own unique style leading bands playing innovative jazz with deep African roots. His historic contributions to music –particularly jazz and go-go – are finally getting the mainstream respect they deserve. But in his late 70s, he retains the energy of a player decades younger. His band, the once and future Oneness of Juju, just released a new recording, “Made Through Ritual [Strut].”

The album incorporates an omnivorous banquet of styles from idealistic funk and R&B to instrumentals with Miles Davis “Bitches Brew” vibe. Over the years, his annual summer concert has become such an RVA tradition that it has become known as “Plunky Day.” His band, which includes both family members and longtime sidemen, embodies the upbeat unity Branch celebrates in his songs. At this stage of his life, as a saxophonist, writer/poet and positive community force,

Branch has nothing left to prove. But, based on his recent performances, he has a lot left to give. Bring your children, they’ll have fun, and someday they’ll want to be able to say they saw Plunky in his prime.

STYLE MAGAZINE

Peter McElhinney

https://www.styleweekly.com/author/peter-mcelhennytemp-styleweekly-com/