INCOGNITO “BEES+THINGS+FLOWERS” 12/26 (Narada Jazz / Blue Note Label Group)

Anyone paying attention to the upper echelon of soul music’s ever changing face knows the name Incognito. More than the moniker of a great band, Incognito is a brand—a guaranteed one-stop for sophisticated, uplifting U.K.-spun soul-jazz, stamped by a cavalcade of top-notch vocal talent, sweeping arrangements for rhythm section, horns and strings, substance-fueled lyrical content and the unflagging leadership of guitarist/songwriter Jean-Paul Maunick, affectionately known as “Bluey.”

Over a 27-year career, London-based Mobo Award winners Incognito made stateside strides with both dreamy urban adult/Quiet Storm fare such as “Deep Waters” and “Still a Friend of Mine,” as well as jazzy horn-kissed club jams like “Everyday” and a cover of the Ronnie Laws/Side Effect classic “Always There.” Fans will be glad to know that all four of those songs can be found on their latest album, Bees + Things + Flowers—only they’ll sound nothing like the arrangements to which they’ve grown accustomed.

“It was time for me to break away from making records the way I was doing them,” the man called Bluey affirmatively states. “A bit of a formula was creeping in. It was time to put a stick in the spoke!” This departure marks an artistic spike in the canon of Incognito with the largely acoustic and meditatively down-tempo Bees + Things + Flowers, the band’s first album affiliated with hallowed jazz giants Blue Note Records via Narada Jazz.

The CD’s intriguing title stems from the impressionistic, Haiku-like lyrics of Acid Jazz godfather Roy Ayers’ summer of `76 classic “Everybody Loves the Sunshine,” the song with which Incognito opens its spellbinding new album. Regarding the title, Bluey comments, “I was looking for something that said ‘new beginning’ or ‘circle of life,’ but didn’t want to be so obvious about it. Then Roy’s words hit me – bees and flowers – that’s the circle of life right there! What hipper way to say it? We’re making a statement with this record. “By revisiting our own songs, our borrowed songs plus a few new songs, we’re showing that music isn’t one dimensional.”

Fittingly, Bees + Things + Flowers was conceived and recorded over the summer of 2006. Bluey composed the first two new songs, “You Are Golden” and “Raise” on his acoustic guitar lounging poolside in the serenity of Bali. The former was later recorded pretty much as conceived while the latter was flipped into a turbulent drum and bass scorcher.

However, the crux of the album came when Bluey and keyboardist Matt Cooper sat down and wrote another new song called “Crave”… in all of 20 minutes. “We were looking for a piano, but one wasn’t available, so we used a Fender Rhodes electric piano. Right then, I ditched the idea of this being an all-acoustic record. The warmth of that sound became the framework for the entire CD. I was also considering using an amplified acoustic bass guitar. But two nights before the session, I was listening to Bill Withers’ Live at Carnegie Hall and it brought me to another quick conclusion—I could use electric bass in this context. Nice.”

Once the new songs were in place, Bluey selected four key cover songs to include: John Sebastian’s “Summer in the City” (with nods to the balmy arrangement Quincy Jones later recorded as well as a string arrangement that mirrors the dark, off-minor work of David Axelrod), America’s “Tin Man,” Earth Wind & Fire’s “That’s Way of the World” and the aforementioned Roy Ayers track. “All of that `70s music was my ‘inspiration information’ growing up,” Bluey shares, “a time of purity when we as people were allowed to be children, take chances and experiment.”

More philosophically, Bluey continues, “‘That’s the Way of The World’ was written as a warning for the children of tomorrow. Anyone who really listens to that lyric would never expose their children to sitting in front of a computer all day. Whatever we put inside their brains shapes the future. Songs like that were like messages from the gods to me. Maurice White and Charles Stepney were the modern day disciples…prophets with the gifts of words and music. To some extent, those songs were not heeded. But none of it is wasted if we resurrect the sentiment and keep spreading the word. Like the America song says: ‘Oz never gave anything to the Tin Man that he didn’t already have.’”

Next were the fresh approaches to songs Incognito had already recorded. “I wanted to take the listener to the origin of some of the hits like ‘Still a Friend of Mine’—a song I wrote without any instrumentation, just a lyric and a drum machine conga beat. I only added the strings to give it something it was missing—the melancholic atmosphere in my being when I wrote it. It’s the closest you’ll get to what I had in my brain.”

Most miraculously, Bluey corralled the largest number of Incognito singing stars in one album than ever before—singers such as Maysa, Carleen Anderson, Imaani, Joy Rose, Tony Momrelle and Tyrone Henry. “I didn’t set out to use so many,” Bluey insists. “It just happened when I started thinking of who would sound best on what song. For instance, Jocelyn Brown was the last element I recorded on this album on ‘Always There.’ She couldn’t believe I wanted her to sing in her falsetto—a beautiful sound she rarely goes to because people assume that if they’ve got Jocelyn Brown in the studio, they’ve got to have her scream! I wanted people to really listen to the words this time. I did the same thing to my song ‘Everyday.’ Why are we always mixing something from down-tempo to up-tempo? We’ve done remixes to get people to dance. Now I say let’s make dancers listen to the lyrics for a completely different experience.”

That Bees + Things + Flowers was recorded in just six consecutive days speaks volumes for the organic flow that defined the proceedings. For the horn arrangements, Bluey chose the burnished glow of euphonium and flugelhorn over the typically punchier saxophone, trumpet and trombone configuration. Strings were added to several of the songs in one half-day session. Overall, the band gelled like never before. “Part of the reason for that,” Bluey adds jokingly, “is that the musicians love football (soccer) so much that they were doing first takes just so they could get back to the ‘tele’ and watch the World Cup! It was summer and the sun was baking down. London isn’t usually like that. The atmosphere was like a celebration—a very healing, soothing and energy-giving thing. It made us forget all the troubles of the world for awhile.”

Incognito has been affiliated with several great labels including the British pioneering acid jazz imprint Talking Loud and American jazz stalwarts Verve. But Bluey—equal parts music fan and musicologist—is especially jazzed to have his custom Rice Records imprint under the umbrella of the distinguished Blue Note Label Group. “Blue Note played a huge part in the music that has influenced me. They made movements happen in the music world. Years ago I was honored to do a compilation of Donald Byrd’s music for them. I consider (Blue Note President) Bruce Lundvall to be one of the unsung heroes of the music industry. I aspire to be just like him, once I come off the road for good.”

Reflecting on how Incognito’s music has affected fans around the globe in the past, Bluey shares, “I’ve had people in Japan, Indonesia, South Amer
ica and Europe come up after shows and tell me, ‘Bluey, your music saw me through a rough period.’ I think, ‘I wrote this thing with my innocent heart so far away from here, yet it’s touched someone here.’ That’s when I realize we can’t fix the people, but we can make them aware of what is within. I believe we’re on this planet to use language and music to set moods and emotions. Part of that is to strip things down. That was the beauty of doing Bees + Things + Flowers. It shows how we really feel about music.”

“Some people at the label have expressed that they like the feel of the new record so much they already want Vol. 2,” Bluey concludes. “I may do that, but I’m looking forward to doing other things, like a fully orchestrated big beat album. That’s the excitement of doing new and crazy things. Bees + Things + Flowers marks our first giant step into blazing new territories.”

Album info:
Due out on CrystalTop Music on January 23rd, 2007, Luz Interpretations has been in the works for more than 3 years, as I traversed the country, from deepest Brooklyn to the mountains of Colorado, to the S.F. City by The Bay. Crossing genres from cumbia and bachata to dub and reggae to jazz and soul, Luz Interpretations is a tasty stew, flavored correctly with banging beats, thick horn arrangements, and varied spices from across the CrystalTop fam on every instrument in the symphony.

File Under:
Hip-hop, Latin, Dub, Downtempo

Links:
www.myspace.com/luzmobmusic
www.crystaltop.com

Blaine Fontanta

Gary Baseman

Mr. Cartoon

Ron English

Skywalker Flyer

Los Angeles – Nov. 20, 2006 – Scion is proud to announce the Scion INSTALLATION 3 Art Show Tour culminating for the first time in Miami Beach during Art Basel. Launched in 2003, Scion INSTALLATION is a revolutionary art tour affirming Scion’s ongoing commitment to support independent artistic expression. Now in its third incarnation, the national tour of INSTALLATION 3 has hit six cities in 2006 (Seattle, Austin, Philadelphia, Chicago, New York and Atlanta) featuring a diverse array of artists from around the world painting on three-foot long polyurethane sculptures of the Scion tC designed by Wheaty Wheat Studios. Past years of the tour have included art painted directly onto Scion xA sculptures and xB vehicles, and art created on three by eight foot canvasses by contemporary urban artists, both emerging and established.

On Thursday, December 7th Scion presents Skywalkers by FriendsWithYou, a parade featuring 12 blimps designed by FriendsWithYou, David Choe, Ara Peterson, Misaki Kawai, PaperRad, Devil Robots and Mumble Boy. Embarking at 3 PM, the parade route will move along the Miami Beach shoreline beginning at 21st Street and proceeding to The Savoy Hotel located at 455 Ocean Drive.

Directly following Skywalkers, enjoy a catered reception (until 8pm), a viewing of Scion INSTALLATION 3 at The Savoy Hotel, and live DJs. Return to The Savoy Hotel on Friday, December 8 to be a part of the official Scion INSTALLATION 3 Art Auction for charity and meet the artists themselves. The art will be on display beginning at 12 PM EST with bidding beginning at 3 PM EST. In addition to bidding on-site, buyers can bid via absentee bidding, telephone, eBay and can access on-line bidding through an online auction link at www.scion.com/installation.

The Scion INSTALLATION 3 Art Auction features original pieces from over 35 artists. Included will be works by rising artist Blaine Fontana, veteran artist Crash (who has changed the face of gallery graff), the distinctive Dalek, the Parisian graffiti don Andre, pervasive artist and animator Gary Baseman, legendary rap photographer Ricky Powell, agit-pop artist Ron English, painter / photographer and publisher David Choe, tattoo god Mr. Cartoon, album cover king Dr. Revolt, Miami native Books , the Miami collective Friends With You, as well as Ara Peterson, Coro, Daim, Darvin Vida, Devil Robots, Dez Einswell, Friends With You, Iosefatu Sua, Joshua Mays, Keen One, Kenton Parker, Kofie, Mad, Matthew Rodriquez, Mike Giant, Misaki Kawai, MumbleBoy, PaperRad, Rostarr, Sage Vaughn, Seak, Sever, Stay High 149, Tindel Michi, and WeAreSupervision.

Last year’s Scion INSTALLATION 2 Art Auction raised over $91,000 for charity. All proceeds from the Scion INSTALLATION 3 Art Auction will go to LegalArt and ArtCenter, charities supporting young visionaries and art education. LegalArt is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing artists with affordable legal services, unique events and educational opportunities. www.legalartmiami.org ArtCenter/South Florida advances the practice and accessibility of contemporary visual arts in South Florida, providing affordable workspace for outstanding visual artists and a community education role, with artists teaching year-round classes for both adults and children. www.artcentersf.org All purchases above the estimated value will be tax deductible.

For more information on Scion INSTALLATION 3, to view the artwork, read about the artists, or bid on a piece in the auction, visit www.scion.com/installation.

About Scion
Scion is the newest line of vehicles from Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. Developed with a new generation of youthful buyers in mind, Scion’s mission is to provide distinctive products, the opportunity to personalize, and an innovative, consumer-driven process at the retail level. The Scion brand features three groundbreaking models: the taut xA subcompact five-door; the xB, an urban utility vehicle with an iconic shape; and the tC sports coupe. For more information on Scion visit www.scion.com

SA/V brings you Scion CD Sampler v.15 – Award Tour mixed by Cosmo Baker and DJ Ayres. Along with partner DJ Eleven, they comprise The Rub crew.

The Rub started as a monthly party in the summer of 2002 at Southpaw in Brooklyn, and it quickly grew into “the best party in NYC” (New York Press). Now in its fourth year, The Rub continues to live up to the accolades – packing in a diverse crowd who’ll wild-out to hip-hop, ’80s, disco, rock, funk, house, reggae and everything in between.

The Rub’s Cosmo Baker played a crucial part of Philadelphia nightlife for years – holding down the now-legendary Back to Basics party with King Britt; spinning at house parties back in the day with The Roots; and launching the beloved Remedy monthly alongside Rich Medina. The Rub’s DJ Ayres got his start spinning hip-hop on college radio and at parties, and has released upwards of 50 mixtapes in 10 years, prompting the New York Times to call him “one of New York’s best mixtape DJs.”
Included on Scion CD Sampler v.15 – Award Tour are songs by Ghostface & MF Doom, Memphis Bleek, The Streets, Aloe Blacc, Chromeo, Bloc Party, and UK Mercury Prize nominee Sway, among many others. Scion CD Sampler v.15 will be available at upcoming Scion events across the country.
SA/V continues to bring listeners, those with and without the skills to cut it up on the turntable, the heart and soul of music through its vinyl and CD releases. Look out for future installments of the mix CDs and 12″ vinyl from Scion DJ Contest winner DJ Cutler and from Connie Price & The Keystones w/ Big Daddy Kane, respectively.

About Scion Audio/Visual
Scion Audio/Visual (SA/V) was founded to give true artists a voice in a noisy world. Scion has consistently championed independent thinking and alternative culture. With its Audio/Visual in-house record label, Scion continues to promote that culture with a series of CD mixtapes and 12” vinyl releases, both given out for free, which focus on getting exposure for these talented musicians and DJs. With global vision and diversity through expression, SA/V champions individuality with no genre boundaries.
Each 12” release features an up-and-coming live band with a special guest vocalist (an established MC or singer) doing a “cover” or “live version” of that vocalist’s song. Past collaborations have included the daKAH Hip Hop Orchestra featuring Guru of Gangstarr; The Fyre Dept. with GZA; and Rhythm Roots Allstars featuring Raheem Devaughn, Aloe Blacc and Afrodisiac Sound System.
On the other side of the SA/V concept, the mix CDs span the gamut of hip-hop, funk, soul, reggae, world, and electronic music. Previous installments have featured mixes from Wax Poetics’ DJ Monk One, Mr. Scruff & Nicolay, The Oakland Faders, Peanut Butter Wolf & Jazzy Jeff, and others.

For more information about Scion A/V visit:
www.scion.com/culture/music or www.scion.com/SAV

About Scion
Scion is the newest line of vehicles from Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. Developed with a new generation of youthful buyers in mind, Scion’s mission is to provide distinctive products, the opportunity to personalize, and an innovative, consumer-driven process at the retail level. The Scion brand features three groundbreaking models: the taut xA subcompact five-door; the xB, an urban utility vehicle with an iconic shape; and the tC sports coupe. For more information on Scion visit www.scion.com

Tracklisting for CD Sampler v.15
01: Grandmaster Caz “Speaks” / Sessomatto “Sesso Matto”
02: Stimulus “The Rub Freestyle”
03: Ghostface & MF Doom “Angels”
04: A-Trak ft. Little Brother “Step Off”
05: Sway Dasafo “Products Die and Lean”
06: Fannypack ft. Mr. Vegas “Fire Fire”
07: Coldcut ft Spankrock & Roots Manuva “True Skool” (Armani XXXchange Remix)
08: Memphis Bleek ft. Jay-Z “Yes”
09: The Streets “The Art of Hotel Expressionism”
10: Exile ft. Blame “Blamexile”
11: Loose Joints “Is It All over My Face (Male version)”
12: Loose Joints “Is It All over My Face (Female version)”
13: Aloe Blacc “Are You Ready”
14: Banda Uniao Black “Africa Hot Band”
15: Shirley Lites “Heat You Up Melt You Down”
16: Qualo “Chocolate Tie (Coco Remix)”
17: Chromeo “Needy Girl”
18: Nick Chacona “A Cambria Heights Affair 2″
19: Pase Rock “Bang”
20: Kudu “Let’s Finish”
21: Trackademicks ft L-Deez “BayCatsDoDat (Hyphy)/ Egg Foo Young “Frost” (Ayres & Cosmo Blend)
22: Tittsworth ft Stimulus “911″
23: Spankrock “Chilly Will”
24: Ghislain Poirier “Pampa Pimp”
25: Kano & Low Deep feat Ghetto, Bic Seac, Demon & Doctor “Get Set”
26: Radioclit featuring TTC, Ears, Skepta, Tinchy, Strider “Mature Macho Machine”
27: Pase Rock “Freestyle”
28: Bloc Party “She’s Hearing Voices”

“Voluptuous, luscious, provocative. Along the lines of Nighmares on Wax. NeoJazz, dub, and even a touch of 70’s sleaze (done most tastefully, of course)”- All Music Guide

The production duo behind redCola, Jonathan Paul and Damir Price aka Paul & Price are set to release their newest collaboration, Sounds Like Sex 2 – After Midnight Music.
Guest vocalists and collaborators include Angela McCluskey, the voice behind Telepopmusik’s “Breathe”, and Toddy Ivy, LA’s refreshing and inovative chanteuse. “I Adore You”, the single featuring Angela McCluskey, was originally written for the Nike campaign featuring Serena Williams which played throughout Europe during Wimbledon and the Olympics. After much anticipation the full-length version finally makes its debut on SLS2.
The album is a follow up to Sounds Like Sex 1, the first in the series whose sales continuously rank in the top 3 at CDBaby’s Music to Have Sex To.
The sound of Paul & Price combines somatic beats with lush orchestration – often provacative and exotic, creating sexy downtempo and intoxicating electronica. Since joining forces in 2002 Paul & Price have released 5 albums and licensed songs for compilations by Hugo Boss, Six Degrees Records and Invisible Records.
Paul & Price is the music of the Virgin Airlines Upper First Class and has been featured on MTV, NBC and Fox. Their prestigious clients include Nike, Infiniti, and Cadillac, as well as films such as Mr. & Mrs. Smith, The League Of Extrodinary Gentlemen, Final Destination 2, and The Watcher.
www.myspace.com/paulandprice
www.paulandprice.com
www.redcola.com