Incognito delivers what
is probably its strongest album
to date with 'Who Needs Love'
"Who Needs Love"
Incognito
Narada Jazz/VirginAbout eight years ago, a visiting British band played to a small crowd at the then-named After Dark club on Nimitz Highway.
Incognito was already known among the local cognoscenti as one of the top groups of its kind. Jean-Paul Maunick (aka Bluesy) started the collective project back in 1979 as part of a bustling and eclectic London music scene. He and his collaborators' fusion of funk, jazz and dance kicked off the U.K. movement which later became tagged as "acid jazz."
Bluesy and his band, now known as Incognito, would go on to wider international success outside of England, particularly in like-minded Japan.
By the time Incognito made their Honolulu concert debut, they were promoting their 1995 album "100 Degrees and Rising," which was getting a push in the U.S. by Verve Records.
Back then on that memorable night, you could tell the band was taken aback by the positive response it got and pleasantly surprised that those in attendance actually knew their material. What resulted was a particularly inspired set that had the band members a-buzz with delight afterwards in their dressing room.
Now we come to the present.
With the advent of the wider international popularity of club DJs spinning both old and new school dance sounds, it was only a matter of time before everyone else caught up with what Incognito was laying down many years previous.
And with studio album number nine, Maunick has delivered what is probably Incognito's strongest album to date in "Who Needs Love," which recently got its U.S. release on Narada Jazz (it's already been out in the rest of the world since last year).
With the exception of a pedestrian and unnecessary bonus "TrunkFunk remix" by The Brand New Heavies of "Can't Get You Out of My Head," the American release is the same superbly crafted and sophisticated album everyone else the world over has heard.
It's surprising that, over the two decades of Incognito's existence, over a thousand musicians from more than 40 countries have taken part in Maunick's ever-evolving project -- and the music hasn't suffered a whit for it.
One member who's come back into the fold (and was one of the singers at the Honolulu gig) is Joy Malcolm. Grouped with the band's two other lead female vocalists, Kelli Sae and Joy Rose, the elder Malcolm takes care of business in a quiet yet powerful manner.
She's effectively showcased on "If You Want My Love" and "Blue (I'm Still Here for You)."
The latter's caressing, acoustic groove is particularly fine.
Joy Rose is proof positive that the British have a close affinity to rootsy soul music. She shines on the low-light, deep groove mood of the aforementioned "Can't Get You ..., " a warm and impeccably crafted "Did We Really Ever Try" that's filled with bittersweet sentiments, and the celebratory house vibe of "Morning Sun" that should be a hit in clubs.
But it's Kelli Sae who makes a strong statement in Incognito.
The New Jersey-born singer previously made her reputation with the Austrian group Count Basic, and Maunick had the good sense to bring her talents on board. She fits in with the slow 'n' smooth "Don't Be a Fool" and the house/funk foundation of "Where Love Shines."
But she's especially soulful on the Brazilian-flavored "Stone Cold Heart," which includes a guest appearance by longtime soul champion and former frontman of the popular post-Mod band The Jam, Paul Weller, here playing a bit on the ol' Fender Rhodes electric piano.
Maunick also makes sure that his band stretches out some on the more instrumental numbers scattered throughout the album. Some of the better arrangements include "Cada Dia (Day By Day)," with its ostinato taken directly from the Stevie Wonder book and strong brass writing by trombonist Nichol Thomson, the retro-sounding "Byrd Plays" and the album-ending, spry soul jazz sounds of "Fly."
All this makes for one of the real musical pleasures of this quickly winding-down 2003.
Here's hoping Bluesy continues to successfully mine that groove for years to come.
Click for online
calendars and events.
