Ars Nova Workshop presents a rare performance by the Richmond, VA ensemble Plunky & Oneness of Juju at Solar Myth on April 21.

Plunky & Oneness of Juju is a Neo-cosmic-FelaPharaoh-Afro-funk band from Richmond, Virginia, founded in San Francisco in 1971. Led since its beginnings by alto saxophonist James “Plunky” Branch, the group has continued to evolve for over 30 years, performing and recording with changes in personnel and under different group names. As documented on a series of cult favorite recordings on revered labels like Strata East and Black Fire, Oneness of Juju carved a unique path through the 1970s, melding the spiritual jazz and Fire music of Pharoah Sanders and Archie Shepp with the contemporary R&B of Earth, Wind & Fire and the Ohio Players into a forward-looking message of empowerment, positivity, and cultural awareness. For this ultra-rare Philadelphia performance, the band will be revisiting Oneness of Juju material recorded between 1974-88.