I was hesitating, if I should write about the group Incognito in this connection. Certainly is Incognito known as "a pioneer of Britain's "acid jazz" movement" (David Nathan). On the other hand Bluey dislikes the term "Smooth Jazz":

"Smooth Jazz is a corporate, selling people a life style. "Smooth Jazz" is the death of American music. "Smooth Jazz" are the nails in the casket of American music. But fortunately for us: For every action there is a reaction."

Imanuel's interview (8/01)

Incognito 's music is unique and Incognito as a project with changing members has an unadulerated style, which is also to find in his side-projects 

like

Innershade

or Citrus Sun.

Although most of the critics are classifying Incognito's music as Acid Jazz:

"The 1991 single "Always There" (with vocals by Jocelyn Brown) became a Top Ten hit as part of Britain's booming acid jazz scene..."

"An acid jazz project with surprisingly deep roots in the 1970s jazz/funk/fusion world..."

All Music Guide

Elson Trinidad wrote in the acid jazz newslist on Mon, 16 Oct 1995:

"That's the funny thing; the only radio airplay Incognito gets in the US is on those 'Yuppie Jazz' stations, you know, the ones that play Kenny G.
instead of Charlie Parker and Jeff Lorber instead of Herbie Hancock :) Oh well, at least they help get Bluey & Co. on the top 10 Jazz album charts."

Incognito 's music is in constant evolution. Bluey's earlier group "Light Of The World"  was inspired by EWF and played jazz funk, Incognito's first album released in 1981 was called "Jazz Funk" playing exactly this style. 

"Inside Life" (1991) was the step to Acid Jazz. My favorite"One Step To A Miracle" has this certain shuffle-rhythm, often copied, still in midtempo. Kevin Robinson 's trumpet solo is a musician's dream and the sound of Gary Sanctuary's Rhodes piano a must for every Acid Jazz fan. "Can You Feel Me" has more the attitude of a Disco-Pop tune. "Always There" tends to a Smooth Acid Jazz tune with Latin flavor. "Soho", another favorite, has a very dynamic rhythm (I am a percussion fan!) and a bad (in the best sense) sax solo. Never try to narrow Incognito's music to one style, you will fail... 

"Tribes, Vibes and Scribes" was released on the Talkin Loud label in 1992. This album is a mixture of Acid Jazz, Latin, R&B, Funk and more styles. Maysa joined the project. Her cover of Steve Wonder's song "Don't You Worry About A thing" became a major hit in the charts of USA, UK and Germany. In Germany Incognito was one of the most known groups now especially supported by the perfect distribution of all albums. The masterful compositions and arrangements rely on steady percussion and occasional jazzy horn flurries, although the dominant (selling) factor on most albums are the vocals.

"Positivity", released in 1993, was the chartbreaker. The song "Still A Friend Of Mine", R&B at its best, had notations in many charts, although Incognito could never consolidate its high position on the biggest music market in USA. The first seven tracks were vocals, instrumental music like "Thinking 'Bout Tomorrow" is reduced. My favorite instrumental: "Inversions". Acid Jazz on this album? I doubt.

Still on the search after Acid Jazz we arrive to Incognito's next release: "100° and rising" (1995). On the cover we see Bluey in the pasha-pose framed by his female singers Pamela Anderson and Joy Malcolm dressed in black (already the contemporary fashion color). Anew a lot R&B, strings more than brass in the background, a smooth out ("Where Do we go wrong"). My favorites: "100° and rising" and "Spellbound and Speechless". My special: "Barumba", Latin flavored Smooth Jazz.

Incognito has already made many Best Of - albums like "Remixed "(1996), "Blue Moods" (1997), "Greatest Hits" (Japan: 1998), "Future Remixed" (2000) and "The Best Of" Incognito (USA: 2000). Concerning the amount of such albums Incognito will not beat Shakatak. 

"Beneath The Surface" (1996) is a return to the roots with the starting instrumental "Solar Fire": A sophisticated brass arrangement, Hammond B3 organ. Male vocals on the second track "Labour Love" (Christopher Ballin). Then back to R&B with the title song "Beneath The Surface" but a little scat in between. "Shade Of Blue" is Maysa's wonderful song with Bluey's great acoustic guitar accompany. "Dark Side Of The Cog" a very weird instrumental reveals the brass power of the group. The impression is right: the "Chicago" sound was intended. The two months delayed American release contained two extra bonus tracks, the first one an instrumental called "Sunchild" and the second "All That You Want Me To Be".

Three years later (1999) the long awaited "No Time Like The Future" appears. "file under R&B/POP" stands on the cover, Verve describes Incognito still as a soul/jazz/funk group. This album is an enhanced CD with pictures and video ("Nights Over Egypt") added to the album. "Fearless" can be discovered as Acid Jazz. My favorite: "I Can See The Future". Experimental: "Black Rain".

"Life, Stranger Than Fiction" (2001) with a lot of new singers (Sarah Brown, Dianna Joseph, Kelli Sae, Xavier Barnett, Tony Momrelle) brings Soul into Incognito's music ("Stay Mine"), Brass arrangements are reduced. R&B and Latin are main incredients. My favorite: "On The Road".  No wonder that Timothy Mundy from www.soul24-7.com, an Internet radio station providing soul and R&B music, writes:

"I have a show on the network Sunday
nights @ 11:00. You will hear many spins from the
Incognito family. "

Incognito has left the Acid Jazz scene a longtime ago.

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