Incognito -

Incognito was an English jazz-funk band from London that released two Ensign singles and the 1981 album Jazz Funk. After a ten-year activity gap, a revolving lineup commenced a three-decade run of discs.

Members: Jean-Paul Maunick (guitar, keyboards, percussion, programming, bass, drums, vocals), Paul Williams [Tubbs], Maysa (vocals), Jocelyn Brown (vocals), Bud Beadle (flute), Karen Bernod, Richard Bull, Graham Harvey, Peter Hinds (keyboards), Randy Hope-Taylor (bass), Linda Muriel (vocals), Kevin Robinson (trumpet, flugel horn), Gary Sanctuary (piano, keyboards, Hammond organ, drums, percussion, bass, programming), Fayyaz Virji (trombone), Ray Carless (saxophone), Winston Rollins (trombone, vocals), Chris Joris (congas, bongos, tablas, percussion)

Background

Incognito formed in 1979 in London when guitarist Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick and bassist Paul “Tubbs” Williams established a separate project from Light of the World.

Maunick was born Jean-Paul Maunick on Feb. 19, 1957, in Mauritius to poet Édouard Maunick and Armande Mallet. He moved with his mother to London at age ten and attended a primary school on West Green Road, followed by Holloway School for Boys. Maunick spent part of his teens at a boarding school in Hertfordshire, where he wrote songs through age fifteen.

Maunick left school at fifteen and worked at a record shop on Tottenham High Road. Owner Joe Williams introduced him to singer David Grant, who teamed with Maunick in New Life. Maunick met fourteen-year-old bassist Paul “Tubbs” Williams at an upstairs jam and joined him in the group that became Light of the World, which signed with Ensign.

After the roadside death of percussionist Chris Etienne during promotional rounds for the first Light of the World album, Maunick left the group. He then teamed with John Rocca in Freeez, which issued the 1980 Pink Rhythm singles “Keep in Touch” and “Stay,” recorded with bassist Peter Maas and drummer Peter Morgan.

Maunick began private sessions with Williams in a makeshift studio at his North London home. Williams recruited seventeen-year-old drummer Geoff Dunn from a South Kensington engagement led by Ghanaian saxophonist George Lee, who also joined the project. Maunick and Williams added Light of the World keyboardist Peter Hinds and percussionist Ganiyu “Gee” Bello to the early Incognito lineup.

Maunick and Williams produced “Parisienne Girl,” which Ensign released in October 1980 (b/w “Summer’s Ended”). Incognito entered the UK Singles Chart on Nov. 9 and reached No. 73. Chris Hill then financed a full album, and Maunick and Williams completed Jazz Funk at Bray Studios.

Albums (’80s):