About Citrus Sun :

 

Incognito founder Jean-Paul ‘Bluey’ Maunick presents his alter ego - eight-piece band Citrus Sun featuring acclaimed UK guitarist Jim Mullen.

 

Says Bluey: “Citrus Sun is a project born of my love for Jim’s playing and the desire to be part of aband with him. We are now good friends and I have collaborated with him on several projects,including Terry Callier and Mario Biondi, but as a teenager in the Seventies I was just a fan. He isan amazing musician.

 

”Mullen’s credits in a 40-year career include Brian Auger, Average White Band, Kokomo, JimmyWitherspoon and the pioneering British jazz funk band Morrissey-Mullen.

 

The obvious difference from Incognito is that Citrus Sun is largely instrumental, with vocals fromValerie Etienne (of Galliano and Jamiroquai) on “What’s Going On” and Terry Callier’s “WhatColor Is Love”. There was an earlier Citrus Sun album released back in 2000, which alsofeatured Jim Mullen in the line-up, and the new album “People of Tomorrow” is a renewal of thatrelationship.

 

“In terms of sound it is also more sparse as it features the sole trumpet reminiscent of the lateDonald Byrd, and there is a cool Latin jazz flavour on some of the cuts”, says Bluey. “Thedistinctive sound of Jim Mullen’s thumbing guitar brings a tonal quality that is very different toIncognito, but at times it is obvious that this is the Incognito rhythm section and for that we makeno excuses, instead celebrating the fact that this is a new project by the same band with me at thehelm”.

 

Some tracks are more connected with the Incognito sound. “You’re So Far Away” and “CookingWith Walter” ( a title inspired by the TV series Breaking Bad) began their lives as jams with theIncognito rhythm section and title track “People of Tomorrow” was co-written by Bluey andIncognito bass player Francis Hylton. “Tonight We Dance” and “Mais Uma Vez (One More Time)” are stunning Latin jazz tunes thatwere a result of Bluey listening to Herbie Mann’s “inspirational” album “Latin Mann (Afro To BossaTo Blues)”.

 

Citrus Sun will be playing live dates during 2014, beginning with an album launch concert atLondon’s Under The Bridge on April 17. Bluey plans to visit the US again this year - Incognitoplayed a 6-city US tour in 2013, including Atlanta, Washington DC, New York and Detroit - and ishopeful of including some Citrus Sun shows.

 

Bluey’s career with Incognito began in the early Eighties and the band have released 15 studioalbums since then, eight of which have charted on the Billboard Jazz Albums Top 10. The mostsuccessful album was 1995’s “100 Degrees and Rising”, which charted on the US jazz, R&B andpop album charts.

 

“People of Tomorrow” is a fine addition to the Bluey discography, and shows him continuing tobranch out following the 2013 release of his debut solo album “Leap of Faith”.