Incognito - Live in London - The 30th Anniversary Concert (2010) [Bluray]

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Incognito - Live in London - The 30th Anniversary Concert (2010) [Bluray]

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Incognito – far more than just a band. The sound visionary Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick has been pioneering in the mercurial acid jazz scene, and as a talent factory, Incognito has rolled out the red carpet for vocal prodigies, such as Jocelyn Brown and the best musicians from the British groove community. Short-lived musical trends have done nothing to damage the popularity of this multi-cultural band with their driving rhythms and elegant melodies and they have become a trademark all over the world, especially live. In this vein, “Bluey” Maunick celebrated Incognito’s 30th birthday on stage at the London INDIGO2 with a thrilling concert in summer 2009.
It was a fantastic night: with their blend of soul and jazz, funk and fusion almost 30 musicians, with several surprise guest appearances, electrified the audience. Thanks to the contagious energy and the virtuoso solo numbers, each song became something special. And as if this band hadn’t given us enough variety already, the strings of the Millenia Ensemble provided a delightful additional interplay of sound.
Incognito didn’t just celebrate 30 years of first-rate music and continued success with this performance – they also gave their fans an unforgettable gift.

Technically, Incognito were justified in claiming a 30th anniversary in 2009, in the sense that Jean-Paul "Bluey" Maunick and Paul "Tubbs" Williams began calling their band by that name (after stints as New Life and Light of the World) in 1979, even though they did not release their first Incognito album, Jazz Funk, until 1981, and then the act went dormant for a decade until Maunick resurrected it in 1991. By then, there was not much chance of this British jazz-funk big band getting significant attention in the U.S., because its sound was strictly out of the ‘70s-‘80s Earth, Wind & Fire songbook (with some smooth jazz side trips) and American R&B had moved on to rap and hip-hop. But that didn't keep them from building up a following in Europe and Asia in the ‘90s and 2000s while releasing a series of albums (with some moderately successful attempts to market them in the U.S. in the dance and contemporary jazz categories), and that is what is being celebrated on this double-CD live set, nearly 20 years of funky rhythms, punchy horn charts, and interchangeable soul singers. The inclusion of a small string section gives some of the tracks the feel of Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra, and the occasional performances of Motown standards ("Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "Don't You Worry ‘Bout a Thing") contribute to the retro mood. Now and then an instrumental ("Jacob's Ladder," "Colibri," "Expresso Madureira") stakes the band's claim to smooth jazz legitimacy. Clearly, it all works for Incognito's British following, even if the sound is old school to American R&B ears. –William Ruhlmann, AllMusic CD Review

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Incognito - Live in London - The 30th Anniversary Concert (2010) [Bluray]

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Incognito - Live in London - The 30th Anniversary Concert (2010) [Bluray]

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Incognito - Live in London - The 30th Anniversary Concert (2010) [Bluray]

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Incognito - Live in London - The 30th Anniversary Concert (2010) [Bluray]

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