Incognito
By popular demand I opened a page dedicated to Incognito and relations, because the Incognito-family is big. Big in all senses of the word :-).
Incognito consists of a group of incredibly good musicians, who not only know how to play perfectly, but also very much enjoy what they do, with on top of that respect. Respect for their originators and respect for their audience.
I have seen Incognito live ten times now and every time it is something special, believe you me.
On July 23, 2001 they played Paradiso in Amsterdam, and here you can read an eyewitness report.
On April 21, 2003 they played a home game at The Jazz Cafe. Unfortunately I don't have pictures of this event, but you can read a number of reviews in the Forum on the official Incognito site.
On April 26, 2003 they did a gig at Ollies in Ascot, of all places, and you can find a review with pictures here.
On Monday May 19, 2003 they played in Paradiso again and I was present once again and this is the accompanying review with some pictures.
The rumors that Incognito would be performing at the World Port Jazz Festival in Rotterdam on Saturday June 28, 2003 turned out to be true, so this was the 10th time I got to see them live! almost obviously you will find a review with photos here. As soon as the World Port Jazz site posts their photos I will add the link here as well.
You can imagine my surprise when I learnt that Isaac Hayes was going to be a no-show for the third time at the North Sea Jazz Festival and was being replaced by Incognito ... chance had it that I got myself a ticket for that Sunday, so it was the 5th time that I saw them in just 3 months time. Since I was able to position myself on the front row here is a short photo report, although it was very hard to make still pictures.
After a year of ... peace and quiet Incognito played a gig at Paradiso in Amsterdam once more on July 22, 2004 and there is no review with pictures :-(
Be patient ... there are photos on each review page, so it may take a little while before each page is loaded.
Below I will do a little review of each of the musical expressions of the extended Incognito family. Take advantage and purchase their CDs. This will not only benefit Bluey and pals, but also all fans across the globe, because the more CDs get sold the more Incognito is able to tour. And believe you me, Incognito live is an experience like no other.
Jazz Funk - Incognito
This is the first CD dating back to 1981 and on which already are a couple of gems. Parisienne Girl and Summer's Ended for instance are two songs that are the foundation of their later works. And Sunburn is an instrumental track that will reappear under several different guises. Also listen to Level 42's Early Tapes and notice the cunning resemblance.
Inside Life - Incognito
This CD contains the first and biggest Incognito hit: Always There. Thanks to the obvious recognizable vocal contribution of Jocelyn Brown this is still a club hit. Another song with hit potention is Crazy For You and Promise You The Moon is the first ballad. Later on the ballad will become the signature trade of Bluey.
Tribes, Vibes + Scribes - Incognito
This is the first CD on where we can hear singer Maysa Leak. And how! With the hit Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing and the sensitive ballad I Love What You Do For Me. So far I think this is the best CD, especially because of the sophisticated balance between the vocal and instrumental tracks and the uptempo songs and ballads. Colibri is a song that is always great when performed live due to the fact that it gives the musicians the chance to showcase themselves. I have already heard African and Latin versions of this track.
Positivity - Incognito
This album is in fact underrated, although it contains the best ballad ever, Deep Water, as well as the hit song Still A Friend Of Mine. Add the wonderful instrumentals Smiling Faces and Inversions to this and you will find this to be a very solid CD.
100° And Rising - Incognito
This time no Maysa, but two other singers, Pamela Anderson and Joy Malcolm, who push Incognito in a more funkier direction. The hit Everyday is a good example of this. My favorite from this album is After The Fall. On the title track and Roots Bluey let us hear his criticism of the social structure. Millennium and Jacob's Ladder are the instrumental continuations of Sunburn.
Remixed - Incognito
This CD features remix versions of tracks from Incognito's previous 4 CDs and one new song, Jump To My Love. On this album for the first time we hear a track that has been reworked by the son of Bluey, Daniel Maunick. This is their first collaboration and more will follow. A big part of this CD is contributed by Masters At Work, or Little "Louie" Vega and Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez, as well as techno DJ Roger Sanchez. Not at all unimpressive.
Beneath The Surface - Incognito
This CD heralds the return of Maysa and this time she has a partner in Chris Ballin. No hits this time around, but each of the songs is powerful, with Labour Of Love and She Wears Black as highlights.
Blue Moods - Incognito
This is a compilation CD of the best intrumental tracks. The only exception is Deep Waters, but it is understood that this is Incognito's best song. There are two new songs on this CD, Journey Into Sunlight (was an extra track on the single CD of Always There) and Sunchild (the sequel to L'Arc En Ciel De Miles).
Live In Tokyo - Incognito
This CD gives you a good understanding of how Incognito sounds like live and what this band is capable of, namely spectacular things. You can hear for yourself that live they are at least as good as on CD. But this something you just have to experience yourself ...
No Time Like The Future - Incognito
This CD starts like every CD should start: with a kick! Wild And Peaceful is a dream start and it doesn't get any worse from there. Highlights are I Can See The Future (especially the keyboard solo by Graham Harvey that kicks in at 5:34) and Yesterday's Dream. And then there is the excellent cover of The Jones Girls' Nights Over Egypt. On this CD two phenomenal singers join their forces, Maysa and Jocelyn Brown. Karen Bernód (of Erykah Badu fame) joins in as well and that can only result in vocal fireworks.
Future Remixed - Incognito
This CD contains remixes of the previous CD, with the exception of a rework of an older track. It also has a track that has been treated by Daniel aka DJ Venom. Also present are Masters At Work and there is a 2-step remix by label partner MJ Cole.
Life Stranger Than Fiction - Incognito
This is Incognito's most recent CD and by hiring a new set of vocalists Bluey choose to make a sequel to 100° And Rising. Funky is the prominent word here. Best track is Castles In The Air, I think, but There Will Come A Day and On The Road are just barely less wonderful.
Who Needs Love - Incognito
First released in Japan in 2002 this CD is also available in Europe now. It is the latest masterpiece of Bluey and his gang. Again it's a strong and varied album with my personal highlights Can't Get You Out Of My Head (with a wonderful sing-along chorus) and Blue (I'm Still Here With You). And there is a track again, that has absolute chart potential: Morning Sun. This is really a CD with a feel for the summer.
Love X Love - Incognito
This is already the third remix CD with remixed versions of songs from their Who Needs Love album and a bonus track, a remix of On The Road (part two). The remix done by Soul Bossa Trio on Stone Cold Heart is jazzy, wild and jumpy; all in the good sense of the words. Also The Brand New Heavies did a remix, they reworked Can't Get You Out Of My Head and the result is very BNH-ish. As for as I'm concerned the only mistake is Fantasista's remix of Don't Be A Fool and it could be just me, but it is just as if the music is at a different tempo as the vocals. The other tracks are very danceable and maybe that on the dancefloor Incognito gets more recognition than it gets on the radio.
Adventures In Black Sunshine
This CD marks the 25th anniversary of the band Incognito and it also celebrates the return of vocalist Maysa Leak. In opener Don't Turn My Love Away there is a bass and piano sequence that might as well have been written by the late, great Jaco Pastorius. The 25th Chapter is a wonderful instrumental that takes your mind back to the early days of Acid Jazz. The Principles Of Love and the Doobie Brothers cover Listen To The Music are the double sided first single and both would be perfect in nowadays hitparade, if only there was quality music in those hitparades ... There are four instrumentals (on one of the George Duke plays keyboard), one track that features Tony Momrelle on lead vocals and one where Imaani sings. On the Japanese release there is a bonus track on which Bluey finally sings again; the rest of the tracks are done by Maysa. All in all this album can be compared with Beneath The Surface.
Maysa - Maysa
This is the first solo CD by this diva with a good mix of ballads and uptempo songs. My favorites are All Or Nothing At All and Rain Drops. It is obvious which songs Bluey did co compose and produce. Also, the bulk of the musicians are part of the Incognito family.
All My Life - Maysa
The CD opens with Aria De La Mia Vita where Maysa shows that she is classically trained and not just another NuSoul singer. On Got To Be Strong she sounds like Sade would sound if she would try a little harder. Closure, which is produced by Daniel Maunick, is vocal drum'n'bass. And the cover of The Bottle is no less than the original. It is a shame that Maysa does not get the public recognition she so deserves, but if she keeps putting out albums like these things will turn out for the best.
Out Of The Blue - Maysa
And this is that next CD, this time not produced by (people from the circle around) Bluey, but it has no negative effect. The cover of Jhelisa's Friendly Pressure is as good as the original. As I see it, Head To The Sky is the sequel to Deep Waters, pushing it into a positive direction. In the interlude Osaka Maysa thanks the people and the hospital personnel of that city for their support during the premature birth of her baby boy Jazz. The CD closes with a cover version of Family Affair, which is easily better than Mary J. Blige's.
4 Corners - Inner Shade
This is the first CD on Bluey's Rice Records label. Three regulars from the Incognito band play the lead here, masterly orchestrated by the man himself. The music is a mix between songs that would not be out of place on a regular Incognito CD and more experimental works, like the 'soundtrack' Loose Cannon and the long but exciting drum'n'bass track Little Sunflower.
Another Time, Another Space - Citrus Sun
Here session guitarist Jim Mullen is paired up with the songwriting and composer talent of Bluey, which spawns a couple of surprising songs, like Mellowed and Make Me Smile.
Paradise II Paranoia - para:diso
The collaboration between father and son did not exactly produce a bastard child. Drum'n'bass sounding like Incognito. It seems impossible, but they prove that in fact it is doable. It's not just d'n'b, but also soul and even a bit of trance. And it even sounds great as well.
On all these CDs Bluey shows how talented and multifaceted he is and that's what his musicians and vocalists are as well. It isn't for nothing that I own all tracks done by Incognito on original CDs.
For news, discography and samples I gladly point you into the direction of their site. Incognito's official website is one of the best internet sites there is. Whatever you are looking for on this band, you will not be disappointed!
Another page that is well worth the visit is the newly opened (currently still un-)official website of Rice Records (now defunct), the label of Bluey. Here you can find, amongst others, news about the latest project Bluey did with his son Daniel, para:diso. In the Images section Bluey even uploaded some pictures, taken during the concert at World Port Jazz in Rotterdam, made by me ... I'm not worthy :-)
Also, on this label Maysa is published, one of the most prominent Incognito singers. It goes without saying that she has her own website.
And basically everything started with the label that was founded by Gilles Peterson in 1990: Talkin Loud. Unfortunately this label folded shortly after its 10 year anniversary. Fortunately Incognito found a new home with Dome Records in the UK and with Rice Records in the rest of the world.
© René Wirtz 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004