Incognito

Incognito is a London-based British acid jazz group formed in 1979 by Paul “Tubbs” Williams and Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick as an offshoot from Light of the World. The band is led by Bluey, who acts as frontman, singer, guitarist, composer and record producer. It remains active and is associated with acid jazz, funk, jazz, soul and smooth jazz.

Career and releases

The group’s debut album, Jazz Funk, is released in 1981. Its first major UK chart breakthrough comes in 1991 with a cover of Ronnie Laws’ “Always There”, featuring Jocelyn Brown, which reaches number 6 in the UK Singles Chart. In 1992, its version of “Don’t You Worry ’bout a Thing” reaches number 19 in the UK.

Incognito also appears on compilation projects connected to the Red Hot Organization. In 1994, it contributes to Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool, and in 1996 it contributes “Water to Drink” to Red Hot + Rio. The song “Need to Know” is used as the theme music for the news programme Democracy Now!

Style and collaborators

The band is known for working with remixers including Masters at Work, David Morales, Roger Sanchez and Jazzanova, and it releases several albums made up largely of remixes. Over the years its lineup includes Linda Muriel, Jocelyn Brown, Maysa Leak, Tony Momrelle, Imaani Saleem, Vanessa Haynes, Mo Brandis, Natalie Williams, Carleen Anderson, Pamela “PY” Anderson, Kelli Sae and Joy Malcolm, among others.

Recognition

In 2021, Incognito reissues a 40th anniversary retrospective of Jazz Funk containing 106 tracks. The deluxe edition includes a 52-page booklet with liner notes by Charles Waring and archival photographs. In October 2022, the band becomes the first group to be honoured in Universal Music Recording’s “Black Story” series, which recognises Black British artists during Black History Month.