Incognito - Tales from the Beach CD

Tales from the Beach buy CD music The smooth jazz supergroup's characteristically tasteful set of sophisticated easy listening music includes guest vocals from Michael McDonald on the slow-burning "My Love's Leaving" as well as impeccably played instrumentals like the delicate "Sunday Morning" and the silky smooth "Twilight Touch." Audio Mixer: Ken Freeman. Recording information: Glenwood Place Studios, Burbank, CA; Studio 22, Canton, OH. Photographer: Michael Waring. Fourplay: Bob James (keyboards); Nathan East (bass guitar); Harvey Mason, Sr. , Larry Carlton. Personnel: ...

Tales from the Beach CD music Smooth jazz artist Paul Hardcastle is known for his synth-dominated instrumentals, and the fifth installment in his series of numerically titled albums (released in the mid-2000s) delivers more of the easy-listening ambient soundscapes for which he's known. Some tracks have a smooth R&B flavor, while others are light fusion, and others still are atmospheric sonic explorations. Taken together, they create an aural experience that is gently relaxing yet full of colorful ideas and detail Audio Mixer: Paul Hardcastle.

Tales from the Beach songs The line that separates jazz-electronica from "smooth jazz" (or, let's be honest, from plain old easy listening) can be a treacherously thin one. It's the line that separates Weather Report from, say, Spyro Gyra, and many artists drawn to that borderland end up becoming forever lost in the shifting sands of watered-down funk grooves and wind chimes. Four80East navigate the line pretty well, and if they occasionally stray onto the syrupy side, you get the feeling that they don't really care as long as the grooves are fun and the melodies are attractive -- which they really are, almost all the time. "Five by Five" opens the album on an interesting and funky note, and is quickly followed by the all too aptly titled "Noodle Soup," a tune that is perhaps just a bit too silky and a bit too infused with synthesized strings (and wind chimes). But "Double Down" generates a darker and edgier mood, and "Easy Come, Easy Go" flirts nicely with reggae. "Closer" is an example of a song that dances around the edges of goopiness -- the "ha ha hey hey" vocals are just kind of silly, though most of the other elements in that track are fairly engaging. En Route is a very pleasant listening experience overall, even if parts of it are more soothing than interesting. ~ Rick Anderson Personnel: Rob DeBoer (guitar, keyboards, programming, background vocals); Jon Stewart (tenor saxophone); Bryden Baird (trumpet); Tony Grace (drums, percussion, programming); Divine Brown (background vocals). Recording information: The Speed Of Sound, Toronto, Canada.

Tales from the Beach album for sale The U.K.-based supergroup Incognito released their 11th career recording and it's a sleek, pop/jazz offering that will have you swinging and swaying to their groovy guitars, big horns, and soulful vocals. This is the first time the group has recorded with its touring band and it's a whole new groove. This sophisticated take on acid jazz features such great songs as "Baby It's Alright," "Show Me Love," and "As Long as It's You." The soulful vocals of Maysa Leak and Imaani bring a great dimension to Jean-Paul "Bluey" Maunick's company and it's definitely a keeper. ~ Paula Edelstein Audio Mixer: Simon Cotsworth. Photographer: Amanda Searle. Publishers: Matt Cooper; Dominic Glover; Graham Harvey; Dominic "Ski" Oakenfull; Nichol Thompson; Francis Hylton. Incognito: Jean-Paul "Bluey" Maunick (vocals, guitar); Matt Cooper (various instruments); Maysa , Tony Remy. Personnel: Gail Evans, Maysa , Tony Momrelle (vocals, background vocals); Carleen Anderson (vocals); Tony Remy (guitar, vocoder); Ed Jones, Andy Ross, Jim Hunt (tenor saxophone); Dominic Glover (trumpet, flugelhorn); Tom Rees-Roberts (trumpet); Nichol Thompson, Trevor Mires (trombone); Matt Cooper (Fender Rhodes piano, keyboards, drums, percussion); Graham Harvey, Francis Hylton (Fender Rhodes piano); Dominic "Ski" Oakenfull (keyboards, synthesizer, drums, drum programming, percussion programming); Richard Bailey , Shawn Lee (drums); Tyrone Henry (background vocals).

Tales from the Beach CD music Jean-Paul "Bluey" Maunick and Incognito have become an insitution on the British groove scene, for their jazz-funk and nu-soul hybrid. Transatlantic R.P.M. marks Maunick's 30 years in the music biz and celebrates with 14 new songs, 13 of them originals. Bluey enlisted a slew of friends to join the party. The set opens with the album's love cover: a convincing reading of Boz Scaggs' "Lowdown," featuring Italian clubjazz singer Mario Biondi and Chaka Khan. The arrangement doesn't differ all that much from Scaggs' version (thankfully) but the meld of Biondi's and Khan's rough-edged lead vocals juxtaposed with a smooth backing chorus, a slightly faster tempo, and a popping bassline after the bridge, distinguishes it. Another notable cut is Bluey's funky name checking homage to the 70s and his youth entitled "75"; it's sung by Joy Rose with a gorgeous horn arrangement by Kevin Robinson. Leon Ware puts in a fine performance on the babymaker, makeup number "Line In The Sand." Bluey's guitar work is, as usual, tasteful and understated, but adds immeasurably. Ursula Rucker sings and speaks on the stepper "Gotta," while Khan gets her own showcaseon the jazzy, string and Rhodes laden, "The Song." Longtime vocalist Maysa shines on the summery "Your Love My Sky," with beautiful guitar work from Bluey and a fine brass arrangement by Trevor Mires. The lone instrumental on the set "Expresso Madureira," mixes Brazilian and Afro Latin rhythms in a heady, funk brew with popping percussion and horns. A Stevie Wonder meets Roy Ayers vibe distinguishes the '70s groove at work in "Life Ain't Nothin' But A Good Thing" sung by Vanessa Haynes. Biondi returns on the breakbeat clubjazz of "Can't Get Enough," backed by Incognito's stellar chorus. Bluey even takes a vocal on the closer, "Tell Me What To Do." While he's no match for the other singers here, the track's breaking, cut time rhythm, breezy atmosphere, and lithe, sensual melody makes it a nu-soul winner. Incognito may not be innovating on Transatlantic R.P.M., but in showcasing the many places they've been, and the wide vein they've mined, they don't need to. This is a summeritme party record with fine songs and good vibes in abundance. ~ Thom Jurek Audio Mixer: Mo Hausler. Recording information: 1k Recordings; Amerycan Studio; Flyte Tyme; Higher Ground; Kingsize Soundlabs; Miloco The Square; Musikbox; Paramount Studio; Sensible Music; The Cream Studios; The Fish Factory; The Pool. Photographer: Cerraeh Laykin.

Tales from the Beach buy CD music Incognito's second release of 2006, BEES & THINGS & FLOWERS, finds the London-based acid-jazz ensemble--led by mastermind Jean-Paul "Bluey" Maunick--offering up a collection of covers, remixes, and previously unreleased tunes. Featuring a wide array of vocalists, including Carleen Anderson and Maysa, the set is consistently engaging, particularly when its revisits and reworks soulful Incognito classics such as "Always There" and "Deep Waters." Audio Mixer: Simon Cotsworth. Recording information: Angel Studio; Town House Studio 4. Author: Ada Louise Huxtable. Photographer: Mitchy Bwoy. Incognito: Bluey (acoustic guitar, background vocals); Sid Gould (flugelhorn); Matt Cooper (grand piano, Fender Rhodes piano, drum); Ski Oakenfull (grand piano, Hammond b-3 organ); Francis Hylton (bass instrument); Luke Parkhouse, Richard Bailey (drum); Karl Vandenbosche (percussion); Imaani, Jocelyn Brown, Joy Rose, Maysa , Andy Ross, Sarah Brown, Tony Momrelle, Tony Remy, Tyrone Henry, Trevor Mires, Carleen Anderson. Personnel: Maysa (vocals, background vocals); Imaani, Jocelyn Brown, Joy Rose, Sarah Brown, Tony Momrelle, Tyrone Henry, Carleen Anderson (vocals); Tony Remy (acoustic guitar, bouzouki); Celine Saout (harp); Warren Zielinski, Lucy Wilkins, Alison Dodds, Richard George, Gillon Cameron, Cath Haggo, Darragh Morgan, Everton Nelson (violin); Reiad Chibah, Adrian Smith , John Metcalfe (viola); Ian Burdge, Chris Worsey (cello); Andy Ross (flute, tenor saxophone); Dominic Glover, Sid Gauld (flugelhorn); Trevor Mires (trombone, euphonium); Dominic "Ski" Oakenfull (grand piano, celesta); Matt Cooper (grand piano, Fender Rhodes piano, drums); Luke Parkhouse, Richard Bailey (drums).