It seems a long time ago that they set the benchmark of what jazz funk was with the release of the album called Jazz Funk, well a British version anyway. It was to be another ten years before Talkin’ Loud got them and with a succession of covers and the glorious Carleen Anderson they took their place as the British jazz funk band.

If you’re not convinced, check for the influences on 4hero’s latest album Play with the Changes (even to the extent of doing an awesome version of Mr. Wonder’s ‘Superwoman’). Of course, Icognito will be always associated with Ronnie Laws’ ‘Always There’ (or ‘Side Effect’ if you’re a little younger). This version is a new Bluey arrangement with Jocelyn Brown (not doing her trademark Jocelyn Brown performance. It’s a very downtempo 4hero string job that isn’t nearly long enough but acts a mix with next track, ‘Raise’ on a broken tip.

This is where the album is at its strongest but on a personal gripe, I never liked The Lovin’ Spoonful “classic”, ‘Summer In The City’ and this is another version I could do without (as good as Ms. Anderson is). America’s ‘Tin Man’ also passes me by but I can see its appeal.

Much better is the new track ‘Crave’ part inspired by Bluey listening to Bill Wither’s album Live At Carnegie Hall and featuring Matt Cooper on Fender Rhodes.

Old and new fans alike will get the re-visiting of their other favourites, ‘Everyday’ with vocals by Imaani, ‘Deep Waters’ and ‘Still A Friend Of Mine’ all of which are (arguably) better than the originals.

The album finishes with a new cover version, Earth, Wind & Fire’s ‘That’s The Way Of The World’ which is about as chill as you can get.

So when you think you know Incognito, Bluey Maunick comes back incognito and still improving. Put in the ‘gets better with age’ category.

Hectic Mix nominations: ‘Everybody Loves The Sunshine’ (Carlos Niño & Miguel Atwood Ferguson’s ‘Nag Champa’ is another tune for the summer), ‘Always There/Raise’, ‘Everyday’, ‘Crave’

Reviewed: Incognito — Bees + Things + Flowers (Narada Jazz) Cat. No. 0946 3 70179 2 0 Release date: 2007

Tracklisting:
1. Everybody Loves The Sunshine featuring Joy Rose (4:17)
2. Everyday (4:05)
3. Summer In The City featuring Carleen Anderson (4:46)
4. Always There arranged by Bluey and featuring Jocelyn Brown (2:30)
5. Raise (3:18)
6. Still A Friend Of Mine featuring Maysa and Tony Momrelle(5:39)
7. Tin Man featuring Carleen Anderson (3:29)
8. Crave featuring Imaani (5:32)
9. Deep Waters featuring Maysa (4:58)
10. You Are Golden (3:52)
11. That’s The Way Of The World featuring Carleen Anderson, Imaani, Jocelyn Brown, Joy Rose, Maysa, Tony Momrelle (9:00)

Links:
www.incognito.org.uk
Gilles Peterson :: Tracklisting 15.03.07 :: 4hero’s Marc Mac drops by with a 4hero history lesson, looking back over the last 15 years of productions.
www.jazzcafe.co.uk 23rd/24th May Jocelyn Brown 22nd September — Light Of The World