Plunky's "Love Makes Us Better" Video Is Cosmic Jazz-Funk

In his "Love Makes Us Better" video Plunky imagines John Coltrane or Pharaoh Sanders getting funky and spiritual and political in today's Youtube musical landscape.



Watch the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fun0F7BJvCs



"Love makes us better" is a declarative statement of belief in the power of universal love. The new song written by acclaimed saxophonist J. Plunky Branch, expresses his personal belief in love as a positive force in human nature.



It turns out the man with the horn is also a man with a vision, as Plunky directed and produced this short-form video masterwork that explores the intersection of musical romanticism and political and social idealism. The message in the video is simple: love makes us better people and a better nation.



The mood and tonality of the song's instrumental track is definitely rooted in the cosmic jazz of the 1960s and 70s. During that era, Plunky worked with Ornette Coleman, Sam Rivers, Pharaoh Sanders, Rashid Ali, Lonnie Liston Smith, Ndikho Xaba and others while leading his group, Juju. Plunky produced two albums on the innovative jazz label Strata-East Records and two albums on Black Fire Records before establishing his own N.A.M.E. Brand Records label. Over the years Plunky & Oneness (of Juju) developed an Afro-jazz funk sound by combining soulful, polyrhythmic and improvisational styles.



On "Love Makes Us Better," Plunky evokes the sentiments of past cosmic jazz saxophone masters, as his soprano soars over the rhythm section guided by Dr. Weldon Hill's grand piano motif. Hip-hop producer J. Fire Branch's beats and funky drums propel the track into today's future tense. Plunky's raw lead vocals are smoothed by angelic background singers (Charlayne Green and Kala Page) as he delivers his simple but poignant lyrics:



Love is supernatural and satisfactual/Magnificent, excellent and heaven sent

Personal love. Universal love. It's all about love

Love makes things better/Better and better

Love makes us better/Better and better



Plunky is a persistently innovative and versatile artist whose 25 albums and 450 original songs span multiple genres including, African, jazz, funk, R&B, hip-hop and reggae. He has toured extensively with his group, Plunky & Oneness (of Juju), performing in concert and at festivals with some of the biggest names in Black music, including George Clinton, Earth Wind & Fire, Patti LaBelle, LL Cool J, Lonnie Liston Smith, and so many more. Plunky recently received a 50 For 50 Award as an outstanding artist of the last 50 years from the Virginia Commission for the Arts. His songs have been on national and international charts, licensed for television, sampled, re-recorded and re-issued on numerous international compilations.



"Love Makes Us Better" will be the title song of the upcoming full-length album due out later this summer, but the song is available now as one of the tracks on "Only You," Plunky's four-song maxi-single CD which this week entered the Smoothjazz.com Top 50 Indie Chart. The "Only You" maxi single is available on itunes, amazon and all the usual online streaming services; and it can be ordered at https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/plunkyoneness8


Website: http://www.plunkyone.com

Source: http://www.mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=203390

Saxophonist Plunky Releases New Single

J. PLUNKY BRANCH

2218 ROSEWOOD AVENUE

RICHMOND, VA 23220

(804)355-3586

E-MAIL plunkyb@aol.com

WEB: www.plunkyone.com

Press Release  For Immediate Release



Saxophonist J. Plunky Branch's latest single release is a neo-jazz adaptation of the John Legend hit song, "Tonight (Best You Ever Had)." Plunky spices the ballad with some smooth sax, sensual female vocals and well-placed funky go-go beats for a danceable adaptation that is reminiscent of Grover Washington's hit of yester-year, "Mr. Magic."



Throughout his career Plunky has pushed boundaries and redefined musical genres with his signature jazz, world beat, funk, hip-hop, gospel and African amalgamations. His experience and versatility keeps him at the top of booking agents' and presenters' lists for concerts, club engagements, and galas. The funky grooves and mellow tones of Plunky's new single, places it squarely within the smooth jazz category, just in time for the summer festival season.



N.A.M.E Brand Records has announced that Plunky will release a series of singles over the next few months, showcasing the legendary artist's depth, eclecticism and broad musical interests. In the coming weeks, "Tonight" will be followed by more go-go, some funk, some message music and Plunky's unique brand of saxy, smooth jazz; all leading up to his next CD album. But "Tonight" is gonna be the (Best You Ever Had)...



Saxophonist J. Plunky Branch is an experienced performer, songwriter and music and film producer. He is president of his own independent record label, N.A.M.E. Brand Records, through which he has released 25 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 in the 1980's. He has appeared on avant-garde jazz albums by Pharaoh Sanders, Hamiett Bluiett and others. With his group, Plunky & Oneness, he has opened shows for Patti Labelle, Ray Charles, Earth Wind & Fire, Yellow Jackets, and Frankie Beverly & Maze, LL Cool J, Chuck Brown, and more.



Listen to Plunky's Tonight (Best You Ever Had): http://www.plunkyone.com/audio/01_Best_You_Ever_Had_2_short_wave_hifi.m3u



View video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz-RVzcqvuw&feature=youtu.be



N.A.M.E BRAND RECORDS

2218 Rosewood Avenue

Richmond, VA 23220

www.plunkyone.com

Email: plunkyb@aol.com

804-355-3586


http://www.plunkyone.com

Latin This by Kayla Jazzmin

Listen To Latin This by Kayla Jazzmin on Fairtilizer:
http://fairtilizer.com/track/135320

Saxophonist/producer Kayla Jazzmin recently released the track "Latin This" from her upcoming jazz CD, Caring Is An Option. The album will be released in October, 2010 on her Just After Dark Music label. She wrote and produced all ten tracks on the CD, which will be available at her personal website as well as major online retailers’ iTunes, Amazon.com, eMusic and Napster. Her musical style is the result of a fusion of many genres – smooth jazz, funk, old school, R&B and hip hop.

"Latin This" is both smooth and spicy, like a cup of bold, exotic coffee swirled with sweet, rich cream. The combination of jazzy saxophone and Latin drum beats is a perfect blend."

"Latin This" is available for sale now on Kayla Jazzmin's website: http://www.kaylajazzmin.com

Jazz Saxophonist Kayla Jazzmin: Serving Her Country And Serving Up Jazz At The Same Time With The Release Of Her New Track "Latin This"

Email: kaylajazzmin@hotmail.com
Website: http://www.kaylajazzmin.com
Music: http://fairtilizer.com/track/134819

Saxophonist/producer Kayla Jazzmin recently released the track "Latin This" from her upcoming jazz CD, Caring Is An Option. The album will be released in October, 2010 on her Just After Dark Music label. She wrote and produced all ten tracks on the CD, which will be available at her personal website as well as major online retailers' iTunes, Amazon.com, eMusic and Napster. Her musical style is the result of a fusion of many genres - smooth jazz, funk, old school, R&B and hip hop.

Playing both saxophone and keyboards on the single, Kayla describes it as "Latin jazz with a hip hop influence". April Jones of MusicDish calls the track "both smooth and spicy, like a cup of bold, exotic coffee swirled with sweet, rich cream. The combination of jazzy saxophone and Latin drum beats is a perfect blend." A multi-talented instrumentalist, Kayla also plays the guitar, bass, clarinet and flute.

Born in Philadelphia in 1987, Kayla grew up listening to jazz and oldies. She began playing sax in middle school, but her musical career began at Calvary Bible Church in Philadelphia. "Pastor Doug Logan set up a group to help the kids in our neighborhood stay out of trouble because the streets were pretty tough. He established a group called Tabernacle of Prayze, where I jazzed up the melodic lines to church songs on the sax, accompanied by a drummer, bassist, and pianist."

The Tabernacle of Prayze group members built a studio in the basement of Pastor Logan's house using money received from performances at churches and investors to produce their first and only CD. Prelude To A Blessing, released during Kayla's senior year in high school in 2005, sold 1000 copies locally." Gospel singer Tye Tribett was instrumental to the album's success.

It was during the making of Prelude To A Blessing that Kayla learned how to produce. She continued performing while attending the Community College of Philadelphia, and took Music Technology to fine tune her production skills.

Caring Is An Option is Kayla's third CD. The quartet disbanded in 2005, but she went on to produce her debut demo CD entitled Just Me in 2007, and a holiday CD in 2009 - Kayla's Christmas Jazz. A Specialist in the United States Army, she is currently stationed in Ft. Hood, TX. Upon retirement from active duty in the Fall of 2010, Kayla plans to concentrate on her music full time. She also plays sax for the Austin, Texas based group Kamunique, though she will continue to pursue a solo career.

"Latin This" is available for sale now on Kayla Jazzmin's website: http://www.kaylajazzmin.com .

CONTACT:
Kayla Jazzmin
Just After Dark Music
kaylajazzmin@hotmail.com
www.myspace.com/kamunique

Legendary Saxophonist Releases Plunky & Oneness 2012 Collectors Box Set

Url: http://www.plunkyone.com
Sound: http://www.plunkyone.com/audio/PLUNKY-Drop.mp3

J. Plunky Branch offers music for old fans and new with an impressive 5-disc compilation, Plunky & Oneness 2012 Collectors' Box Set, a retrospective of the best of his last 20 years' 12 CD albums. Long known for his versatility, saxophonist-producer Plunky has exceeded the bounds of eclecticism in this extensive library of songs organized into genre-specific CD's: Urban Groove, Cool Jazz, Love Songs, P Phunk and Afro World, packaged into a box set.

This is a collection of songs by one of the most prolific and enduring groups of the last 40 years. The band originated in the early 1970's as Plunky & Oneness of Juju, an avant Afro-jazz ensemble, and they developed by constantly exploring a wide range additional genres of Black music including R&B, funk, smooth jazz, reggae, hip-hop and neo-soul. Plunky and the group has continued to record and tour extensively and recently had a new break-through when Plunky's song "Drop" received national radio airplay and became a dance club hit.

Plunky & Oneness 2012 Collectors' Box Set is a virtual music library of the best of Plunky's last 20 years' releases. The compilation includes more than 80 songs on five CD's plus a bonus disc that contains background information, pictures, travel journals and videos.

The original 12 albums recorded and released between 1988 and 2008 were each unique but similar in that they all contained multiple types of music, as Plunky consciously continued to demonstrate the "oneness" or common characteristics inherent in all Black popular music forms. The songs on the new 2012 compilation CD's are organized by genre, taking into account that listeners are likely to utilize music albums in accordance with their moods, activities and settings.

Whatever your mood, this collection offers music to enhance and uplift it. Disc 1 Urban Groove has saxy instrumentals for dancing or just grooving (and includes Plunky's smash hit "Drop"). Disc 2 Cool Jazz is smooth tracks for a mellow atmosphere. Disc 3 Love Songs' sensual music sets the mood for romance. Disc 4 P Phunk is all hard-core funk to move your mind and body. Disc 5 Afro World explores African rhythms and other world beats.

This is a massive compilation of music for Plunky fans and for collectors of original urban, saxy, cool, funky, love inducing, Afro-jazz and more. The five CD set, plus bonus disc will be packaged in a regular DVD case and have a list price of $39.99, with deep discounts offered for pre-release orders and downloads. National release date for the box set: November 3, 2009.

Distributed by Liaison Distribution, 9435 Washington Blvd, Suite J, Laurel, MD 20723. Available online at www.plunkyone.com and www.cdbaby.com/cd/plunky13.