Incognito with Maysa

The British acid jazz band Incognito was founded in 1979 as an offshoot of a larger ensemble called Light of the World. (“Acid rock” is a British term for a sub-genre of jazz that incorporates funk, soul, hip hop and disco.)

The founders were guitarist Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick and the late vocalist/bassist Paul “Tubbs” Williams. Their debut album was “Jazz Funk” (1981).

Over the years Incognito has released 19 albums, including their latest, “Into You” (2023), as well as several compilation albums, and they have toured internationally. Their work has been a favorite for re-mixers like Masters at Work and David Morales, and Incognito has released several albums of remixes. Incognito appeared on the Red Hot Organization’s “Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool” (1994), a compilation album created to raise awareness of AIDS in the African American community. It was declared Album of the Year by Time magazine. Their song "Need to Know" is the theme song for “Democracy Now!,” the progressive radio and television news program hosted by Amy Goodman on PBS and Free Speech TV.

In 2021, the band reissued a deluxe 40th anniversary, 106-track retrospective of “Jazz Funk.” It includes a 52-page booklet with liner notes and a selection of the band's archive photos.

Incognito has seen many artists rotate through as guests and members of the band since its founding.

One of these has been the brilliant, magnetic vocalist Maysa Leak, who will be sharing the stage with them during this year’s Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest.

Maysa, who has performed many times at Berks Jazz Fest, was singled out by Stevie Wonder from the Morgan State University Choir when she was a junior; after she graduated, she became part of his backup ensemble, Wonderlove.

In 1992 she became the lead singer for Incognito for their 1992 hit single, “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing,” giving her international recognition. After that, she recorded more than seven times with them.

Maysa has been a solo artist for three decades. Her career has included international tours, major TV appearances, national awards and chart-topping hits.

In 2018 she started her own record label, Blue Velvet Soul Records, named for her 2013 album. Her 15th and most recent album is “Music for Your Soul” (2023).

Find the artists online: Incognito (opens in a new tab)Maysa(opens in a new tab)

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