Incognito (band)
Encyclopedia
Incognito is a British
band
, as well as one of the members of the United Kingdom's acid jazz
movement. Their debut album, Jazz Funk, was released in 1981, with thirteen more album
s following, the last of which, Transatlantic RPM, was released in 2010.
The band's frontman, composer
, record producer
, guitarist
and singer is Jean-Paul 'Bluey' Maunick
. Other notable band members have included the singers Jocelyn Brown
, Carleen Anderson
, Tony Momrelle
, Imaani
, Maysa Leak
, Kelli Sae (of Count Basic
) and Joy Malcom.
, with their breakthrough hit a cover version
of the Ronnie Laws
tune "Always There", featuring Jocelyn Brown, which made #6 in the UK
. The group's 1992 single, "Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing
" saw similar success, reaching #19 in the UK. They have also been a favourite of various re-mixers, including Masters At Work
, David Morales
, Roger Sanchez
and Jazzanova
, and have released several albums consisting almost entirely of remix
es.
In 1994, Incognito appeared on the Red Hot Organization
's compilation album
, Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool. The album, meant to raise awareness and funds in support of the AIDS
epidemic in relation to the African American community, was heralded as "Album of the Year" by Time
magazine. In 1996, the band contributed "Water to Drink" to the AIDS-benefit album Red Hot + Rio
, also produced by the Red Hot Organization.
Their song "Need to Know" is the theme song for liberal radio and television news program "Democracy Now!
".
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
, as well as one of the members of the United Kingdom's acid jazz
Acid jazz
Acid jazz is a musical genre that combines elements of jazz, funk and hip-hop, particularly looped beats. It developed in the UK over the 1980s and 1990s and could be seen as tacking the sound of jazz-funk onto electronic dance: jazz-funk musicians such as Roy Ayers, Donald Byrd and Grant Green are...
movement. Their debut album, Jazz Funk, was released in 1981, with thirteen more album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s following, the last of which, Transatlantic RPM, was released in 2010.
The band's frontman, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
and singer is Jean-Paul 'Bluey' Maunick
Jean-Paul 'Bluey' Maunick
Jean-Paul 'Bluey' Maunick is a British guitarist, bandleader, composer and record producer. He has led the British acid jazz band Incognito since its formation in 1979. With Incognito, he has released fourteen studio albums as well as a number of live albums, remix albums and compilation albums...
. Other notable band members have included the singers Jocelyn Brown
Jocelyn Brown
Jocelyn Lorette Brown is an American R&B and dance music singer...
, Carleen Anderson
Carleen Anderson
Carleen Anderson is an American soul singer, who has had success in the United Kingdom. She is the daughter of the singer Vicki Anderson and stepdaughter of Bobby Byrd, and is most well known as the lead singer in the Young Disciples as well as for her own solo career.-Early career:Anderson was...
, Tony Momrelle
Tony Momrelle
Tony Momrelle is a British R&B singer and is one of the current lead vocalists of the band, Incognito....
, Imaani
Imaani
Imaani Saleem is an English singer.-Career:In 1998 she entered the A Song For Europe competition to find the UK's song for the Eurovision Song Contest. Her track "Where Are You" was a runaway winner with the British public and was selected to represent the UK...
, Maysa Leak
Maysa Leak
Maysa Leak is an American jazz singer better known by her mononym Maysa. She is well known by fans of smooth jazz both for her solo work and for her work with the British band Incognito.-Biographical sketch:...
, Kelli Sae (of Count Basic
Count Basic
Count Basic are an Austrian band who play a variety of R&B, trip-hop, acid jazz and smooth jazz. The band's principal members were guitarist Peter Legat and the two vocalists Kelli Sae and Valerie Etienne but the band decided to go on only with Kelli Sae after the first album.-Discography:*1995...
) and Joy Malcom.
History
The band has had intermittent success in the UK Singles ChartUK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, with their breakthrough hit a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of the Ronnie Laws
Ronnie Laws
Ronald Wayne "Ronnie" Laws is an American jazz, blues and funk saxophonist. He is the younger brother of jazz flautist Hubert Laws.-Biography:...
tune "Always There", featuring Jocelyn Brown, which made #6 in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The group's 1992 single, "Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing
Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing
"Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing" was a hit single from Stevie Wonder's 1973 album Innervisions, which reached #16 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart and #2 on the R&B chart...
" saw similar success, reaching #19 in the UK. They have also been a favourite of various re-mixers, including Masters At Work
Masters At Work
Masters at Work is the house/garage production and remix team of "Little" Louie Vega and Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez. They first worked together using the name, which had been given to them by mutual friend Todd Terry , in 1990...
, David Morales
David Morales
David Morales is an internationally acclaimed Grammy-winning house music DJ and producer. In addition to his production and DJ work, Morales is one of the most prolific remixers of all time, transforming many pop music songs into club-friendly dance tracks...
, Roger Sanchez
Roger Sanchez
Roger Sanchez, also known as Roger S. and The S Man, is a Grammy award-winning American House music DJ who has scored many hits in the European and World Charts...
and Jazzanova
Jazzanova
Jazzanova is a German Berlin-based DJ/producer collective consisting of Alexander Barck, Claas Brieler, Jürgen von Knoblauch, Roskow Kretschmann, Stefan Leisering, and Axel Reinemer. Formed in 1995, the group is one of the foremost proponents of the nu-jazz, chillout and jazz house styles of music...
, and have released several albums consisting almost entirely of remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
es.
In 1994, Incognito appeared on the Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization is a not-for-profit, 501 3, international organization dedicated to fighting AIDS through pop culture.Since its inception in 1989, over 400 artists, producers and directors have contributed to over 15 compilation albums, related television programs and media events to raise...
's compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
, Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool. The album, meant to raise awareness and funds in support of the AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
epidemic in relation to the African American community, was heralded as "Album of the Year" by Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
magazine. In 1996, the band contributed "Water to Drink" to the AIDS-benefit album Red Hot + Rio
Red Hot + Rio
Red Hot + Rio is a compilation album produced by Paul Heck as part of the Red Hot AIDS Benefit Series intended to promote AIDS awareness. This installment is a contemporary tribute to the Bossa nova sound, especially the music of Antonio Carlos Jobim...
, also produced by the Red Hot Organization.
Their song "Need to Know" is the theme song for liberal radio and television news program "Democracy Now!
Democracy Now!
Democracy Now! and its staff have received several journalism awards, including the Gracie Award from American Women in Radio & Television; the George Polk Award for its 1998 radio documentary Drilling and Killing: Chevron and Nigeria's Oil Dictatorship, on the Chevron Corporation and the deaths of...
".