Best of Incognito
With the success ofErik Truffaz,Nils Petter Molvaer, andSt. Germain, the epicenter of the acid jazz/funk scene moves fluidly between the European continent and London, home of Incognito. The genre's roots are inextricably linked to Incognito, a huge amalgamation of musicians led by composer and guitarist Jean Paul "Bluey" Maunick. The band's rabid devotees will no doubt use this 13-song compilation as an Incognito primer for potential converts, particularly pointing to the back-to-back inclusion of their three biggest hits--"Everyday," "Deep Waters," and "Spellbound and Speechless"--which convey perfectly their layers of funk, jazz, and r&b; vocal harmonies to the uninitiated. Several special remixes make this best-of important to the knowledgeable hard core who can't get enough of Incognito's vocalists--Maysa, Jocelyn Brown, and Pamela Anderson--including one withStevie Wonderplaying harmonica on Bluey's punched-up version of "Change," and mix-master David Morales's take onRonnie Laws's "Always There." Much more important to Bluey's army of American fans is the very last track--a rowdy version of "Talkin' Loud." Finally, there is a live Incognito album,Last Night in Tokyo: Incognito Live, available as an import.--Mark Ruffin