Incognito, Smooth jazz Artist

 

 

 

 

Originate from the United Kingdom

Genre: Jazz-funk, Acid Jazz, Soul, Pop

The enduring success of Incognito is one of the great stories of UK music during the last four decades. Look at the recent history of soulful UK artists and you will find any number of short-lived acts that have achieved pop success.  Narrow it down to those that have created a uniquely British sound and have endured as a global phenomenon on their own terms, and the list becomes short.  Dues, then, to Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick and Incognito, formed in 1979 and celebrating 36 years of positive vibes and undiluted Jazz-Funk in 2015.

Having moved to London from his native Mauritius at age ten, the UK live scene was a key inspiration for Bluey. “Defining moments for me?” Bluey reminisces.“Discovering Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye, of course, as well as Santana, Earth Wind & Fire, and Kool & The Gang. But the real link to Incognito’s genesis came from UK bands like Gonzalez and FBI. These were people that lived in your town and walked your streets.

“My first band was New Life with David Grant. His cousin, Joe Williams, would later manage my second band, Light of the World, which was formed during the years I worked in Joe’s record shop in Tottenham.  The band rehearsed upstairs and some of the future band members would pop in to jam,” recalls Bluey. “I switched from bass to guitar when Paul ‘Tubbs’ Williams came in; he was only 14 and blew everyone’s minds!”

 

Members:

Jean-Paul ‘Bluey’ Maunick, Matt Cooper: keyboards, musical director

Vanessa Haynes: vocals, Mo Brandis: vocals, Natalie Williams: vocals

Francis Hylton: bass, Francesco Mendolia: drums, João Caetano: Percussion

Sid Gauld: trumpet, Jamie Anderson: sax/flute, Trevor Mires: trombone

Maysa Leak: vocals, Tony Momrelle: vocals, Imaani: vocals

 

Biographical information courtesy of Incognito; for more reading see link below

http://www.incognito.london/#!incognito/cehr