The soul-jazz band Incognito is the musical vision of one man, Jean-Paul "Bluey" Maunick. He is one of the main founders of acid jazz, which started in the 80s and 90s. In 1978, he co-founded the sico-funk band "Light of the World" which broke up a few years later. He then formed a new band, "Incognito", in 1981 with a member of "Light of the World". Their first album "Jazz Funk" came out the same year. Bluey then took a 10 year hiatus and finally returned to Incognito in 1991. Acid jazz was becoming extremely popular at that time and the band was extremely successful. Since then, "Incognito" released an album at least every other year.
Bluey has been very creative with the cast of his band, using an ample amount of various highly talented musicians and vocalists.
In his latest album, Transatlantic RPM (released in 2010), Bluey enlisted major stars. Bluey shows off that star power right away on the lead-off track with a remake of the Boz Scaggs' 1977 classic "Lowdown." There isn't a lot that he does differently with the original arrangement of the song but it hardly matters, because the passionate vocal performances by both Chaka Khan and the Sicilian soul crooner sensation Mario Biondi make this a remake worth listening to. Though taped separately on Italian and American soil, Khan and Biondi blend their voices in and around each other in a perfect duet. Khan reappears on a tune she co-wrote with Bluey "The Song," a mid-tempo r&b tune in the style of classic Earth, Wind and Fire. Which is appropriate since Al McKay from the classic EW&F lineup adds his recognizable tasty jazz guitar licks to the song.
Songwriting and singing Motown legend Leon Ware adds his voice to a soul song that hearkens back to Teddy Pendergrass' salad days. The spoken-word poetess Ursula Rucker adds her unique singing style to "Gotta," speaking the lyrics but often in tune with the melody; it's not quite rap, and not conventional singing, but a unique approach that catches your attention and commands focus on the lyrics. Biondi returns to supply his powerful pipes to the dancefloor workout "Can't Get Enough."
Tracklist for "Transatlantic RPM":
01. Lowdown (feat Mario Biondi and Chaka Khan)
02. Everything That We Are (feat Luckyiam)
03. 1975
04. Your Sun My Sky
05. Line In The Sand (feat Leon Ware)
06. Gotta (feat Ursula Rucker)
07. Let’s Fall In Love Again (feat Christian Urich – Tortured Soul)
08. The Song (feat Chaka Khan)
09. Put A Little Lovin’ In Your Heart
10. All of My Life
11. Expresso Madureira
12. Life Ain’t Nothing But A Good Thing
13. Make Room For Love
14. Can’t Get Enough (feat Mario Biondi)
15. The Winter Of My Springs
16. Tell Me What To Do
02. Everything That We Are (feat Luckyiam)
03. 1975
04. Your Sun My Sky
05. Line In The Sand (feat Leon Ware)
06. Gotta (feat Ursula Rucker)
07. Let’s Fall In Love Again (feat Christian Urich – Tortured Soul)
08. The Song (feat Chaka Khan)
09. Put A Little Lovin’ In Your Heart
10. All of My Life
11. Expresso Madureira
12. Life Ain’t Nothing But A Good Thing
13. Make Room For Love
14. Can’t Get Enough (feat Mario Biondi)
15. The Winter Of My Springs
16. Tell Me What To Do
Besides "Transatlantic RPM", Incognito release a large amount of albums that should ALL be listened to. It's a unique band, feel good music, it's groovy, funky, and soulful! The vocalists are sublime, and there are so many!
Check out Incognito's albums here: http://www.incognito.org.uk/releases
Here's one of my all time Incognito favorites, "Deep Waters", what's yours?
