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INCOGNITO
The enduring success of Incognito is one of
the great stories of UK music during the last 20 years. 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 the list to those that have created a
uniquely British sound and that 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 1980 and celebrating 25 years of positive vibes and
undiluted jazz funk in 2005.
From an early age, the UK live scene was a key inspiration for Bluey, having
moved to London from his native Mauritius aged ten. Defining moments for me?
Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye, of course, Santana, Earth Wind & Fire, Kool & The
Gang. But the real link to Incognito was 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, he remembers, his cousin later
managed Light Of The World. I worked in his record shop in Tottenham and we'd
rehearse upstairs. Some of the future Light Of The World musicians band would
pop in to jam. I switched from bass to guitar when Paul 'Tubs' Williams came in,
he was only 14 and blew everyones minds. Spawning a new band, the name Tower
Block was changed to the more uplifting Light Of The World and, in 1978, Chris
Hill's Ensign imprint promptly signed them. We ended up at Phonogram Studios and
could suddenly buy any equipment we wanted in their shop. No one stopped to
think I can buy a car! All we could see was wah wah pedals and phaser units! The
self-titled LOTW debut was a landmark for UK jazz funk featuring extended high
energy club hits Swingin and Midnight Groovin, as well as a young Sade pictured
on the cover.
British jazz funk bands created a scene to an extent but we didn't embrace each
other enough, reflects Bluey. It was about blowing each other off stage. We'd
know musicians but didn't like the way certain guys dressed. In the end, punk
came along and stopped it in its tracks. In the 70's, there was a healthy live
circuit in London. From pubs, you could graduate to the Q Club, Upstairs At
Ronnies. By the early 80's, we relied on DJs like Chris Hill booking a band for
weekenders. I formed Incognito because I really wanted to take the music to the
next level. My vision was to be a producer, a writer and part of a musical
community. As Jocelyn Brown has said, we're in the business of music, not the
music business.
I started Incognito with Tubs. Our first saxman was Ghanaian
music star George Lee and the drummer was Jeff Dunn (later with Van Morrison).
We invited in keyboardist Peter Hinds and percussionist Gee Bello. Recording
again for Ensign, the first Incognito offering was a demo instrumental,
Parisienne Girl. On Radio 1, before the news, they played filler music and used
Parisienne Girl. You'd hear it three or four times a day. Ensign then wanted an
album which was all recorded in a few days. The debut Incognito set, 'Jazz Funk'
was an instrumental tour de force, with guests numbering Hugh Masekela hornsmen
Peter Segona and Claude Deppa and legendary Jamaican trombonist, Vin Gordon. I
respect the musicians spirit 100%. With writing and producing, I knew that I
could communicate and weed out the good from the bad. It was a lovely exchange
and formed the whole ideology behind Incognito.
After a brief foray into pop with North London Boy, many of the core Incognito
band went separate ways. Paul Williams joined The Team with Gee Bello while
Bluey continued writing and producing. I had a day job but was always writing
and spotting people. I discovered 14-year old vocalist Steven Dennis (later
re-named Steven Dante), in Hackney. I met and worked with Marcus Miller,
producer Steve Harvey, Maxi Priest, George Duke, Caroll Thompson and others. I
did anything to keep my love for music alive. It all helped me to develop as a
songwriter.
In the late 80's, Linn drums and sequencers were standard and I started creating
tracks at home, reflects Bluey, including the main body of the Incognito 'Inside
Life' album. Gilles was about to sign Young Disciples and was looking at where
to go next. I had known him from his Radio Invicta days and he came to see us at
the Southport Weekender playing Always There. Gilles made the connection with
Jocelyn Brown for the record. The David Morales remix paved the way for how I'd
make music in the future. His version was so simple and at that point, I
embraced all DJ's! With the single and Inside Life album in 1991, Incognito were
back.
Besides taking clubland, and the charts, by storm, Incognito unwittingly became
smooth jazz heroes in the U.S. With their second Talkin Loud set, 'Tribes, Vibes
& Scribes', Maysa Leaks vocals graced an update of Stevies Don't You Worry 'Bout
A Thing and an album track blew up on U.S. Quiet Storm radio. Bluey remembers,
We had a hit with an instrumental called L'arc En Ciel De Miles. It was a simple
tribute track but that and Deep Waters from our Positivity album were huge. The
key was Richard Ball's drum programming. That rhythm is now a staple on smooth
jazz records. The success led to the bands Citrus Sun offshoot project in 2001.
The
albums that followed Tribes cemented Incognito's stature as a global phenomenon.
1993's 'Positivity' was among their best, crammed full of slick productions and
universal hits like Still A Friend Of Mine and Givin' It Up. Positivity sold
almost a million worldwide. Bluey remembers. It really struck a chord with
America. People identified with the songs and that album sealed it. '100 Degrees
& Rising' super-sealed it. For that one, I brought in Joy Malcolm and Pam
Anderson for some edge and we recorded at Abbey Road with a full string section,
using Clare Fischers incredible string arrangements for Rufus as inspiration. I
wanted to stretch my ability as a writer and producer and remember keeping a
diary that inspired the lyrics it was all about relating experiences as I felt
them, not just about finding a catchy hook. Everything we did was accompanied by
incredible remixes. I Hear Your Name, and Everyday had versions done by the best
in the business like Roger Sanchez and Masters At Work. Stevie Wonder added
harmonica to a re-work of Change. It was such an important part of our success.
On-stage too, Incognito have retained a massive fanbase from their unmissable
live shows. For Bluey, it is a chance to get close to his audience. It's not
about playing the tune just to get applause. It's about communicating, making
sure people get it. Its knowing that everyone shares a strong feeling of wanting
to be together and experiences a little utopia, something thats not there in our
daily lives. If I had to pick out some gigs, Id say Sofia in Bulgaria, feeling
the power of a crowd that are hungry for music. Montreux in 2005 too. We
followed Craig David and the hall was packed. It showed me how far we have come.
Post-Talkin Loud, the Incognito release schedule has been as busy as ever with a
string of quality releases on UK label Dome and Blueys own label set-up, Rice.
The most recent album projects have, by critical acclaim, been some of
Incognitos strongest. With 'Adventures In Black Sunshine', it was our 25th
Anniversary and I used Incognito tunes as the blueprint. It was about what
influence I could have on myself and how the band could deliver that. Other
recent projects have included the Hope Collective single Give & Let Live on
Expansion, in aid of the Asian Tsunami victims and the people of Darfur in the
Sudan, featuring an all-star cast including Chaka Khan, Steve Winwood and Omar.
We always see bands like U2 getting political but it seems to happen rarely in
soul music.
With our new album, 'Eleven', I'm recording with my touring band for the first
time. I have been inspired by our live shows in 2005 its a very different band
and the whole attitude has shifted. We have all discovered each others lives on
the road. As a writer, thats bullets in my gun! For the future, I'm looking at
acts outside of my comfort zone. I want to go into studio with Masters At Work,
Morales and Sanchez ten years down the line from their last remixes for us. I
want to go to Brazil and make a record with Brazilian musicians and capture the
real soul of their playing.
25 years on, the Bluey and Incognito story remains a one-off and a uniquely
Great British adventure. From Top Ten hits to producing and arranging for Chaka
Khan, Philip Bailey and George Benson, Bluey Maunick can take his place among
the greats of global soul. It's a wonderful time for music. We are teachers,
healers. I certainly see myself as much more of a healer than an entertainer.
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