Forever In A Moment

Forever In A Moment, the new CD by Plunky & Oneness is a 12-song urban jazz affair that is intimate and expansive, spicy and cool, funky and melodious all at the same time. J. Plunky Branch's saxophonic excursions are backed by his group's neo-soul grooves and intertwine occasionally with Tonya Lazenby-Jackson's unrestrained, romantic vocals. This album is full of saxy mellow music for moments you'll remember forever. Forever In A Moment epitomizes the smooth jazz format. Every song has radio airplay potential! The collection is at its bewitching finest, though, when taken as a whole. It's as comfortable upfront as the music for relaxing among friends as it is in the background when sharing love and private pleasures. Standout tracks include: the urban jazz instrumental "Happiness Is" and the vocal ballad "It Feels So Right." On the first, Plunky's alto sax dances, soars and speaks its short piece in the vernacular of the urban jazz of today. Tonya Lazenby-Jackson sings her heart out on "...So Right," the love song whose lyrics proclaim "It's like we're in the light of our own shining star; it feels so right, right where we are..." Other memorable tracks like "Forever In A Moment" and "Come With Me" will surely command attention as well. All of the songs were written or co-written and produced by Plunky. But, its the musical contributions by Chris Beasley, guitar; Ken Friend, bass; Corey Burch, drums; and young lion Howard Boisseau on keyboards that add the rich and seductive texture to this collection. Plunky & Oneness is not a latter day studio concoction. It's a hard working, touring band, attracting fans and wowing audiences at nightclubs, special events, festivals, colleges and schools. A consummate performer, Plunky has been on the road gigging for the past 35 years. It is onstage that he and his music shine. Performing live, the group is a funk band led by a jazzy saxophonist rather than a jazz band trying to get funky. They come off like John Coltrane fronting George Clinton's P-Funk mob or Grover Washington with Jill Scott. But this new CD highlights the group's versatility because it is so consistently smooth and groovy. Forever In A Moment is the 18th album produced and released by Plunky as a soloist and with his various groups, including Juju, Oneness of Juju and Plunky & Oneness. Plunky's recording history covers a wide range of Black music styles, including avant garde jazz, African, funk, dance, R&B, contemporary jazz, new age, gospel, reggae and rap. Since 1973 Plunky's songs have been included on numerous compilations, reissues, and television shows. In 2002, Strut Records of London released a two-CD retrospective compilation entitled "African Rhythms- Oneness of Juju 1970 -1982" to international critical acclaim. Future compilations of the groups' music are planned. But for 2004, Forever In A Moment is right on time! J.PLUNKY BRANCH BIO Saxophonist J. Plunky Branch is an experienced performer, songwriter and producer, and is president of N.A.M.E. Brand Records, through which he has released 18 albums. At one time Plunky was a studio musician for television's top-rated sitcom, "The Cosby Show. His song "Every Way But Loose" was a top-ten soul music chart hit in London. He has appeared on avant-garde jazz albums by Pharaoh Sanders, Hamiett Bluitt and others. Nowadays Plunky spends his time leading his bandmates onstage playing rousing funk, R&B, jazz, African, reggae and rap and making music in his recording studio. Plunky's European tours have taken him to England, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. He twice toured Ghana, West Africa, once for the Ghana National Commission on Children, and again as a cultural specialist for the U.S. Information Agency. During the last 18 months he has performed in England, explored music business opportunities in France and Japan and traveled to Brazil and to Cuba twice to research and produce music recordings. With his group, Plunky & Oneness, he has opened shows for Patti Labelle, Ray Charles, Najee, Yellow Jackets, and Frankie Beverly & Maze and more. Plunky & Oneness performed at the New Orleans World's Fair, the National Black Arts Festival in Atlanta (four times) and twice at the Hampton Jazz Festival in his native Virginia. For more than 10 years Plunky has toured continually with support from the Virginia Commission for the Arts (VCA). Plunky's career accomplishments are as varied as his music and his diverse interests, which include: African art and culture, history, digital technology, politics and the media. In addition to being a veteran saxophonist and composer, J. Plunky Branch has served as an administrator, lecturer and teacher. He has been a frequent arts panelist for the Virginia Commission for the Arts, the Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Plunky is a two-time recipient of the NEA Jazz Fellowship and he was appointed to the Governor's Task Force for the Promotion of the Arts in Virginia. He has been Director of the Jazz Ensemble at Virginia Union University as well as an instructor of Afro-American Music History at Virginia Commonwealth University, both in Richmond. Recognized by Richmond Magazine as Musician of the Year for 1999, Plunky is a sought after artist-in-residence and performer for public schools systems. He has written film scripts, journals of his travels, poems and over 200 songs. Throughout his career Plunky has entertained and taught thousands, and in the process, has developed a broad and loyal following. During his 1987 West African tour, critics proclaimed Plunky "one of the greatest living saxophonist!" In a context where rhythm, ritual, power and emotion reign supreme, he just might be! For further information contact: J. Plunky Branch, 2218 Rosewood Avenue, Richmond, VA 23220, 804-355-3586, Fax 804-355-7240, Email: plunkyb@aol.com