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As one of the founding members of the Acid Jazz movement, Incognito set the standard with their debut album Jazz Funk on Ensign Records (who where also releasing vinyl by Beggar & Co, Light Of The World, Ray Carless at the same time).

Thirteen more albums have followed (including Bees + Things + Flowers a few years ago) and they are back with Transatlantic R.P.M. that’s the usual mix of excellent guest vocalists, Bluey’s arrangements and some killer tunes.

As a band, they are best known as bringing Ronnie Laws ‘Always There’ to a new audience and the fact that that track was released in 1975, it’s probably not coincidental that ‘1975’ is a blatant nostalgic Soul ‘boogie’ Boy trip down memory lane, but singer Joy Rose keeps it up for love very nicely indeed.

They also did a mean cover of ‘Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing’ by Stevie Wonder, who gets a name check in ‘1975’ as does Herbie Hancock. Whilst it must be a coincidence that their cover of Boz Scaggs’ ‘Lowdown’ features Chaka Khan who we last saw on Herbie’s The Imagine Project that came out last month. This version of ‘Lowdown’ is better than the original I’d say and that is due in equal measure to Khan because of Mario Biondi (who you will recall was the fantastic voice of ‘This Is What You Are’ that came out on Schema a couple of years ago).

Khan gets ‘The Song’ all to herself and it’s got a real Big Chill (strings ‘n’ all) feel to it that Maunick has perfected so well over the years. Another female artist that we should hear more of these days is the rap-poetry of Ursula Rucker (on ‘Gotta’) and Tony Momrelle features on the classic Incognito sounding ‘Put A Little Love In Your Heart’.

Another Incognito gift is getting butts to move and they’ve got into Banda Black Rio’s ‘Expresso Madureira’ in a big way.

The Ronnie Scott’s gigs will feature Vanessa Haynes, Joy Rose and Tony Momrelle and it’s not just the lucky few at Ronnie Scott’s that are looking forward to seeing them live. Their next major live appearance is in Brighton with the album launch party (see details below); somewhat a world away from their first ever live appearance at Flicks in Dartford on 29th January 1981!

No only because of their durability, Incognito draw comparisons as UK’s own Earth, Wind & Fire (who have just been over here touring with their The Greatest Hits compilation) and this is the sort of vibe that suits the Big Chill crowd - Festival Republic take note.

Bluey, thank you for always being there for the past 30 years.

Reviewed: Incognito - Transatlantic R.P.M. (Dome Records) Cat. No: DomeLP306 (Format:2 x Vinyl) Released: July 2010
Tracklisting:
A1 Lowdown featuring Chaka Khan and Mario Biondi (4:29)
A2 Everything That We Are feat. Luck Iam (3:57)
A3 1975 (4:39) vocals by Joy Rose
A4 Your Sun My Sky feat. Maysa (4:05)
B1 Line In The Sand feat. Leon Ware(4:23)
B2 Gotta feat. Ursula Rucker (4:13)
B3 Let’s Fall In Love Again feat. John-Christian Urich (4:24)
B4 The Song feat. Chaka Khan (5:10)
C1 Put A Little Lovin’ In Your Heart feat. Tony Momrelle (5:25)
C2 All Of My Life feat. Joy Rose (4:49)
C3 Expresso Madureira (5:27)
C4 Life Ain’t Nothing But A Good Thing feat. Vanessa Haynes (6:00)
D1 Make Room For Love feat. Tony Momrelle (6:03)
D2 Can’t Get Enough (4:00) vocals by Mario Biondi
D3 The Winter Of My Springs vocals by Joy Rose , Lurine Cato & Tony Momrelle (0:42)
D4 Tell Me What To Do (5:20) vocals by Bluey

Links:
www.incognito.org.uk
19th - 21st August Ronnie Scotts £20-£41.50 tel: 0207-439-0747
Saturday 18th September - Concorde2 Proudly Presents Incognito Album Launch Party!With VERY Special Guests Joanna Harman & Mick Fuller’s Soulshyne. Doors: 8pm - 1.30am (18+ only) Tickets: £15 + bf in adv.
Followed By:: Incognito Official After Party with Mick Fuller’s Soulshyne + Bluey & Francis Hylton (Incognito DJ Set).
Legendary Brighton DJ Mick Fuller & soul music fan Paul Sutton conceived SoulShyne as an occasional soulful club night, it has rapidly developed into an exclusive club and party promotional collective and it’s growing success has led to numerous parties and events at several clubs around Brighton and several guest appearances across the South of England and is now run by Mick & Michele Lefton. They give a definitive mix of Old School Soul, Funk Anthems, Disco Classics & Funky Soulful House.
www.incognito.org.uk
www.myspace.com/bluey_incognito
www.myspace.com/soulshyneuk
www.myspace.com/mickfuller
Concorde2 Box Office at 01273 673311concorde2.co.uk
bozscaggs.com
www.myspace.com/mariobiondi
mariobiondi.com