Incognito

Incognito is a British acid jazz band that originated in London. The band was co-founded in 1979 by Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick and Paul “Tubbs” Williams. It started as an offshoot from the group Light of the World, with Maunick taking on roles as frontman, singer, guitarist, composer, and record producer. Their debut album, “Jazz Funk”, was released in 1981, laying the groundwork for their distinct sound that blends jazz, funk, and soul.

Throughout their career, Incognito has experienced success on the UK Singles Chart. A notable breakthrough occurred in 1991 with their cover of Ronnie Laws’ “Always There,” featuring Jocelyn Brown, which reached No. 6. The following year, their rendition of “Don’t You Worry ’bout a Thing” climbed to No. 19. The band has also been recognized for their remixes by notable DJs and producers such as Masters at Work, David Morales, Roger Sanchez, and Jazzanova. Their involvement with the Red Hot Organization led to contributions to compilation albums “Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool” (1994) and “Red Hot + Rio” (1996), both aimed at raising awareness and funds for the AIDS epidemic. In 2001, Incognito received the MOBO (Music of Black Origin) Award for Best Jazz Act, further solidifying their impact on the music industry.

In 2021, Incognito marked their 40th anniversary with a comprehensive 106-track retrospective reissue of their debut album, “Jazz Funk”. This reissue included a 52-page booklet with extensive liner notes and archival photos, reflecting on their journey. In October 2022, Universal Music Recording honored the band as the first group in their “Black Story” series, a tribute to Black British artists during the UK’s Black History Month. Over the years, Incognito has maintained an active presence, releasing new music and performing live, evolving as an ever-changing collective of musicians hand-picked by Bluey from a worldwide pool to capture their signature sound.