2006 album from this soulful Acid Jazz band. It features new arrangements of four Incognito classics ('Always There', 'Still A Friend Of Mine', 'Everyday' and 'Deep Waters') and covers of such great tunes as Roy Ayers' 'Everybody Loves The Sunshine', Earth Wind & Fire's 'That's The Way Of The World', 'Summer In The City' and a stunning remake of America's 'Tin Man'. There are also three brand new Bluey compositions. Six tracks feature a 16-piece string section and the line-up of lead vocalists on this radio-friendly album is the strongest ever assembled for an Incognito album: Carleen Anderson, Jocelyn Brown, Maysa, Joy Rose, Imaani and Tony Momrelle. Dome.
Jean-Paul Maunick and his Incognito mates have spent the last 30 years refining and boiling down their version of acid jazz to a smoothly textured, immaculately produced sheen. Bees + Things + Flowers has a more retro vibe about it, filled with peaceful soul, stellar vocalists, and a few smartly executed covers. "Summer in the City" is a prime example of the latter, featuring a loopy vocal line, nimbly negotiated by Carleen Anderson, that floats over soft horns and snippets of playful synth. The singers Maunick brings in are often given the spotlight, even on a jazz flight like "Stand;" of course, a singer like Jocelyn Brown isn't exactly easy to upstage. At times, the record sacrifices tight structure for wandering bliss, like on the nine-minute Earth, Wind & Fire closer "That's the Way of the World." On the other hand, it's not like you can't wait for that nine minutes to end. Maunick, as always, makes it sound like there's all the time in the world. --Matthew Cooke
