Incognito - 2oth Century Masters: The Best Of (2006)

A great introduction to the uplifting, funky, and urbane Incognito, Hip-O's Millennium Collection skips the band's fringe releases -- live albums and remixes -- and focuses on their main output. Covering the years 1992-2001, the compilation represents when Incognito were the darlings of smooth jazz radio in the U.S. and the acid jazz crowd in the U.K. The club side of the band is represented best by the disco flashback "Always There" with Jocelyn Brown and the effervescent cover of Stevie Wonder's "Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing," but where Millennium Collection truly succeeds is in its coverage of the underappreciated soft and soulful side of Incognito. "Deep Waters," "Out of the Storm," and "A Shade of Blue" are all rich, wistful ways to mend a heart and are perfectly dropped into the collection despite the strictly chronological running order. While it seems the collection was put together without leader Jean-Paul "Bluey" Maunick's involvement, and longtime fans get no new insights into the band, Millennium Collection offers newcomers a true representation of the band's heyday and doubles as a stand-alone, soulful good time. © David Jeffries