So it's a pleasure to welcome Into You, a new album released this month on the Shanachie Entertainment label. The massive scale of such a project can easily be seen in the credits. The comprehensive album kicks off with Keep Me in the Dark and features vocalist Natalie Duncan. Natalie Alexis Duncan is a British soul musician from Nottingham, England. The piece is characterized by a brilliant horn section and a virtuoso piano solo by Chicco Allotta.
The new album of Incognito Into You turns out exuberant with 16 pieces of music and testifies to the elemental act of creation of the project, which has settled around Jean-Paul Maunik.
Back in July ever-dependable Bluey Maunick announced the impending arrival of a new INCOGNITO album via the delicious summery single, ‘Back On The Beach’. Laid back and soporific, it was crafted from all the various elements that make the Incognito sound so captivating. That was followed in September by another single - and another classic Incognito vibe - ‘Keep Me In The Dark’. With a sumptuous vocal from Natalie Duncan, it indicated that the promised album was going to be something rather special. Well, said LP, ‘Into You’, is released this Friday, 20th October and our previews reveal that, indeed, it is rather special.
‘Into You’ is Incognito’s 19th studio set and like the previous 18, it delivers that familiar Incognito sound - but it also offers something new, something a little different. That splendid melding is achieved, chiefly, in two ways. First Bluey’s in control. He knows what he wants and he knows how to achieve; thus his trademark flourishes are stamped all over this set. He also knows that change and evolution are important and here he achieves that by using a smattering of new musicians, new vocalists and some special guests.
Natalie Duncan is one of those new faces. Ms Duncan fronted the single, ‘Keep Me in the Dark’ and that’s the song that opens the 16 tracker. It’s a clever choice for an opener as it sets the tone for what’s to come - a music that’s smooth and sophisticated but never bland, melodic, harmonic, brassy, hook-laden and soulful with a jazzy undertow. Natalie fronts five more cuts including the emotive, gentle ‘Colourblind’, the ballad ‘One Step’ and the soulful duet that is ‘Reconcile The Pieces’ - the duettist, by the way is the band’s long time collaborator, Tony Momrelle.
Old or new? Familiar or fresh? It makes little difference. The Incognito brand is a guarantee of quality, innovative music and ‘Into You’ simply underlines that. The album was released on October 20th 2023 on vinyl, CD & digital via Shanachie (USA) and Space Shower (Asia) and in the UK, Europe and the rest of the world via Bluey’s own label “Splash Blue”.
The formation Incognito initiated by Jean-Paul "Bluey" Maunick is an ever-changing conglomerate of highly talented musicians who have been instrumental in shaping the content of the term acid jazz. www.soulandjazzandfunk.com
Title: Into You
Artist: Incognito
Year: 2023
Length: 1:19:52
Genre: Acid Jazz
Label: Shanachie Entertainment
KEEP IN THE DARK (feat. Natalie Duncan)
Written by Jean-Paul Maunick,Natalie Duncan,
Richard Michael Bull and Francis Hylton
Natalie Duncan: Lead and Backing Vocals
Cherri V and Tony Momrelle: Backing Vocals
Richard Bull: Guitar, Percussion, Electric Piano
and Synthesisers.
Francis Hylton: Bass
Francesco Mendolla: Drums
Chicco Allotta: Piano
Charlie Allen: Guitar and Solo
Bluey: Backing Vocals and Guitar
Joao Caetano: Percussion
Trevor Mires: Trombones, Horn Arrangement
Sid Gauld: Trumpets
Paul Booth: Saxophones
Produced By Jean-Paul "Bluey" Maurnick,
Richard Bull and Mo Hausler
Recorded by Mo Hausler and Richard Bull