The recent visit of The Pyramids to British shores served as a timely reminder of just how joyously affirmative Afrocentric US dancefl oor jazz can be. From the mid-1970s into the early-80s, Oneness of Juju were prime purveyors of the cosmo-funk, but rare early albums like this overlooked treasure (their second release, made when the outfit still used a shorter moniker) reveal deeper jazz roots. Sure, ‘Contraction’ musters a crawling funk groove with heavy Latin percussion, but pieces like ‘Black Experience’ and the title track show a strong affiliation to the post-Coltrane street-jazz vibe of the Strata East label – with Ngoma Ya Uhuru's hip poetry declamation perfectly evoking that potent brew of militancy and spiritual yearning: “A new day is coming!” Finally, a quarter-hour version of Pharoah Sanders’ ‘Black Unity’; seals the deal, with stinging congas setting a breakneck pace and heart-bursting exuberance that leads right back to Trane.

Vinyl selling for $12.49 at ebay.com