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Incognito: Adventures in Black Sunshine

Incognito

British acid-jazz outfit Incognito serves up a hefty helping of its signature jazz-funk on Adven-tures in Black Sunshine (Narada). Longtime vocalist Maysa Leak has returned, and her powerful vocals are featured on half of the tracks. Her vocals on “Don’t Turn My Love Away” are both alluring and urgent, and she croons seductively on “Fences and Barriers.” A house beat offsets Maysa’s velvety vocals on “The Principles of Love,” and her voice is supported by a thumping groove and electronica accents on “Mr. Jones”-not a remake of the Counting Crows hit-though Incognito’s take on the Doobie Brothers’ classic “Listen to the Music” is: the band completely reinvents the song, turning it into a dance-floor workout, complete with a house beat and ringing keyboards. Singer Tony Mornrelle takes lead vocals on two songs, one of which is the gentle “Close My Eyes.” There’s much on this album for those who like Incognito’s instrumental tunes, too-the group jams energetically on the joyous, soaring “Everything Your Heart Desires” and turns funky and soulful on “The 25th Chapter.” Keyboardist George Duke brings his Fender Rhodes to the party and engages in some funky-yet-cool jamming on “Mindin’ My Business.”

Originally Published