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| Incogniti | |
|---|---|
| Name | Incogniti |
| Origin | London |
| Genre | Jazz Vocal ensemble |
| Years active | 1980s–present |
| Labels | Blue Note Records ECM Records Decca Records |
| Notable members | George Shearing Anat Cohen Jacqui Dankworth Ian Shaw Bobby Wellins |
Incogniti Incogniti is a British jazz vocal ensemble and collective formed in London in the late 20th century. The group became known for theatrical performances, close-harmony arrangements, and collaborations with prominent figures from the British Jazz Awards era, drawing talents from scenes around Royal Academy of Music, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and the London Jazz Festival. Incogniti's work spans club residencies, festival appearances, recordings on independent and major labels, and pedagogical projects alongside artists associated with BBC Radio 3, Southbank Centre, and the Royal Albert Hall.
The ensemble emerged during a period of renewed interest in trad jazz and contemporary vocal jazz in London clubs like Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club and venues associated with the Covent Garden arts district. Early collaborators included musicians connected to John Dankworth projects and performers who had worked with Cleopatra Records and the BBC Big Band. Incogniti's first public appearances intersected with events at the Soho Jazz Festival and charity concerts alongside figures from The Proms and the Hayward Gallery programming. Over time the group evolved through lineup changes influenced by contemporaries such as Jacqui Dankworth, Ian Shaw, George Shearing, and instrumentalists from the National Youth Jazz Orchestra.
Membership has been fluid, drawing singers and instrumentalists from institutions like the Royal College of Music, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, and alumni networks including the European Jazz Youth Orchestra. The ensemble's leadership has included directors and arrangers with links to Graham Collier, Mike Westbrook, and arrangers who worked with Decca Records sessions. Rotating vocalists have featured artists associated with BBC Radio 2 programmes, theatre credits at the National Theatre, and crossover projects with performers tied to English National Opera and the Royal Shakespeare Company. Instrumental sidemen have included musicians with histories in bands connected to Cassandra Wilson, Kenny Wheeler, and Stan Getz tributes.
Incogniti's repertoire spans standards from the Great American Songbook and reinterpretations of works by composers such as Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, Cole Porter, alongside contemporary pieces linked to Pat Metheny, Sting, and adaptations of material associated with Paul Simon and Joni Mitchell. The ensemble performed arrangements informed by jazz big band traditions of Count Basie and Thad Jones, while incorporating chamber textures reminiscent of Gil Evans collaborations. Their stagecraft often referenced theatrical approaches used in productions at Sadler's Wells and cabaret aesthetics present in Leicester Square revues. Incogniti arranged compositions for variable lineups, producing a catalogue that included both original works by ensemble members and commissioned pieces from composers known for work with BBC Symphony Orchestra and London Sinfonietta.
The group toured throughout the United Kingdom, appearing at major festivals such as the London Jazz Festival, Glastonbury Festival on fringe jazz bills, and international events including the Montreux Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, and club dates in New York City and Paris. Notable engagements featured performances at the Royal Albert Hall during charity galas, a residency at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, and collaborations for tribute concerts honoring artists like Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Miles Davis. Incogniti also participated in cultural exchange projects with ensembles affiliated to the Goethe-Institut and toured for arts councils connected to British Council initiatives.
Recordings were released on labels associated with both independent presses and larger imprints such as Blue Note Records and Decca Records, with sessions produced by engineers who had worked on projects for ECM Records and Island Records. Studio albums featured guest appearances by artists linked to George Shearing and instrumentalists involved with the Paul McCartney orchestra sessions. Radio broadcasts included features on BBC Radio 3 and appearances on BBC Radio 2 jazz programmes, while televised spots aired on cultural strands related to the BBC Proms and arts coverage on Channel 4. Selected recordings achieved airplay on international outlets connected to the European Broadcasting Union.
Incogniti influenced later UK vocal ensembles and pedagogues in conservatoires such as Royal Academy of Music and Guildhall School of Music and Drama, inspiring projects that bridged jazz and theatrical performance found in productions at National Theatre and Southbank Centre. Alumni went on to work with artists and institutions like Jacqui Dankworth, Ian Shaw, Bobby Wellins, and orchestras connected to the BBC Big Band and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The ensemble's arrangements and collaborative model informed community and educational initiatives supported by the Arts Council England and programming at festivals including the London Jazz Festival and Aberjazz Festival. Incogniti's legacy persists in recordings, archive broadcasts, and the careers of members active across international jazz and theatre networks.
Category:British jazz ensembles Category:Vocal jazz groups