Acid Jazz Group INCOGNITO Releases 15th Album, “SURREAL” | Available NOW”

London, ENG: Legendary UK groove-masters Incognito embark on its third decade of creating funky mind-blowing soulful classics with their stellar new recording SURREAL.

As the preeminent funk/jazz/soul/dance outfit in the world, Incognito, almost singlehandedly pioneered the “acid jazz” movement, scoring hits with versions of Stevie Wonder’s “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing” and Ronnie Laws’ “Always There,” selling more than a million records in the process.

SURREAL is Incognito’s look into the future, featuring three of the brightest young stars on the British soul scene: Mo Brandis, Natalie Williams and Vanessa Haynes.

Mo Brandis, who is being hailed as England’s John Legend, features on the sultry swing of “This Must Be Love,” the two-step of “Don’t Wanna Know” and the first single “Goodbye To Yesterday” which you’ll swear you’ve heard before. It’s not a Boyz II Men cover, but it’s just as good!

And then there’s the soul sistas.

Long time Incognito lead singer and celebrated jazz/soul diva, Maysa, whom Incognito mastermind Jean-Paul ‘Bluey’ Maunick calls his ‘awesome musical muse,’ gives SURREAL the special touch that only she can deliver.

Maysa features on three cuts, the lead track “The Less You Know” which has a big bold Earth Wind & Fire meets Michael Jackson vibe, “Capricorn Sun,” a mid-tempo in-the-pocket groove machine and the closing tour-du-force “Thoughtful Fantasies” which sounds like mid-70s Chicago at their horn-blowing best.

New to Incognito is Natalie Williams, a rising UK star compared to Erykah Badu and Jill Scott, whom is most well-known for her monthly Soul Family Sundays residency at world renowned Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London. Guests have included Amy Winehouse, Terri Walker and Jamie Cullum who remarked, “She’s a truly real, beautiful star, worthy of everyone’s attention.”

Ms Williams features on the dreamy elegance of “Above The Night,” the Calypso-flavored sway of “The Stars From Here” and the sublime “Restless As We Are”.

Rounding out the soul train trio is Vanessa Haynes whom contributed to Incognito’s 2010 release Transatlantic R.P.M. and has previously worked with Van Morrison, Billy Ocean, Chaka Khan, LuLu, Anastacia, Leon Ware and Mario Biondi. Ms Haynes features on the acid jazz boogie of “Ain’t It Time,” the tender “Don’t Break Me Down” and the resplendent “To Be With You”.

Augmenting world-class musicianship and know-how with a modern brigade of soul singers lays the foundation for the Incognito locomotive to hustle and bustle along its fourteen tracks.

Bandleader/guitarist Bluey shares, “I hope when people hear SURREAL they identify with the songs and see themselves in the stories. I hope they feel the bass & the drums in their guts and see this album as a complete work from beginning to end. I want the listener to feel nostalgic and in the next instance to be surprised. I want heads to nod, hips to sway, and hands to be thrown in the air. I want them to say that ‘this album is slamming!’”

Slamming surreal soulful grooves are sure to scintillate as Incognito kicks off their year-long world tour in the U.S. For up-to-the-minute info, please visit www.incognito.org.uk />

INCOGNITO TOUR DATES
03/28/12 Detroit, MI @ Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts
03/30/12 New Haven, CT @ John Lyman Center for the Performing Arts
03/31/12 Reading, PA @ Berks Jazz Fest, Crowne Plaza Reading Ballroom
04/01/12 New York, NY @ B.B. King Blues Club
04/02/12 Annapolis, MD @ Rams Head On Stage
04/03/12 Washington, DC @ Warner Theatre
04/06/12 Atlanta, GA @ Center Stage
04/07/12 Atlanta, GA @ Center Stage
05/25/12 London, England @ London Islington Assembly Hall
06/05/12 Paris, France @ Trianon
07/13/12 Straubing, Germany @ Jazz an der Donau Festival
07/21/12 Saulkrastu, Latvia @ Saulkrastu Jazz Festival
08/01/12 Sapporo, Japan @ Jasmac Plaza Zanadu
08/03/12 Osaka, Japan @ Club Quattro
08/04/12 Fukuoka, Japan @ Beat Station
08/05/12 Hiroshima, Japan @ Club Quattro
08/07/12 Nagoya, Japan @ Nagoya Blue Note
08/08/12 Tokyo, Japan @ Blue Note Tokyo
08/09/12 Tokyo, Japan @ Blue Note Tokyo
08/10/12 Tokyo, Japan @ Blue Note Tokyo
08/11/12 Tokyo, Japan @ Blue Note Tokyo
11/02/12 Zurich, Switzerland @ Jazz No Jazz Festival