Transatlantic R.P.M.

Transatlantic R.P.M. is an album by the British acid jazz band Incognito, released in 2010 on Dome Records. The album peaked at No. 4 on the UK Jazz & Blues Albums chart, No. 16 on the UK Independent Albums chart and No. 8 on the US Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart.

Critical reception

David Rose of The Times wrote: "Anyone with an allergy to Smooth FM should look away now, but fans of slap-bass soul and inoffensive grooves will find much to enjoy from acid jazz survivors Incognito (celebrating their 30th birthday). As befits a anniversary album, this is a rose-tinted exercise in nostalgia, featuring cameos from Chaka Khan and former members of Jamiroquai, Tortured Soul and Earth, Wind & Fire."

Mario Tarradell of the Dallas Morning News in a B review claimed: "Three decades later, Britain's Jean-Paul Maunick keeps Incognito cranking out sophisticated jazz, R&B, funk and disco beats as part of the sorely underrated acid-jazz style."

Thom Jurek of AllMusic in a 3.5/5 star review noted: "Incognito may not be innovating on Transatlantic R.P.M., but in showcasing the many places they've been, and the wide vein they've mined, they don't need to. This is a summeritme party record with fine songs and good vibes in abundance."

Jonathan Takiff of the Philadelphia Daily News in a B+ review also declared: "Fresh, horn-blasted soul music has gotten harder to come by on this side of the big pond. But U.K. funkmasters Incognito, led by Jean-Paul "Bluey" Maunick, are keeping the sound alive and well on Transatlantic R.P.M. (Shanachie, B+) with a kick that could rouse even Philly groovemasters Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff from their semiretirement."

Track listing

Personnel

Musicians

• Graham Harvey – keyboards (1, 14)
• Ski Oakenfull – keyboards (1, 5, 14)
• Matt Cooper – keyboards (2–4, 7, 8–13, 16), string arrangements (10)
• Mo Hausler – programming (15)
• Jean-Paul "Bluey" Maunick – guitars (1–7, 9–14, 16), rhythm guitar (8), string arrangements (10), keyboards (15), bass (15), beats (15)
• Richard Bull – acoustic guitar (4), bass (4), drums (4, 16), keyboards (16), drums (16)
• Al McKay – lead guitar (8), rhythm guitar (8)
• Stuart Zender – bass (1, 14)
• Francis Hylton – bass (2, 3, 5–13, 16), keyboards (3)
• Pete Biggin – drums (1–3, 5–14)
• Thomas Dyani – percussion (1–14)
• Alice Hall – violin (10, 14)

Brass sections

• Paul Greenwood – saxophones (1, 14), flute (1)
• Finn Peters – saxophones (1, 4, 14), flute (1)
• Patrick Clahar – saxophones (2, 3)
• Simon Willescroft – saxophones (6, 11, 16), horn arrangements (6, 11)
• Jim Hunt – saxophones (9, 12)
• Trevor Mines – trombone (1, 4, 14), brass arrangements (1, 4, 14)
• Fayyaz Virji – trombone (2, 3, 9, 12)
• Dave Williamson – trombone (6, 11), horn arrangements (6, 11)
• Sid Gauld – trumpet (1, 4, 11, 14), flugelhorn (16), horn arrangements (16)
• Kevin Robinson – trumpet (2, 3, 13), brass arrangements (2, 3, 13), flugelhorn (10, 13)
• Daniel Carpenter – trumpet (6, 16), horn arrangements (6)
• Dominic Glover – trumpet (9, 12), horn arrangements (9, 12)
• Jean-Paul "Bluey" Maunick – horn arrangements (6, 9–13, 16)
• Matt Cooper – horn arrangements (10)

String section (Tracks 5, 7 & 8)

• Simon Hale – string arrangements and conductor
• Nick Squires – cello
• Bill Hawkes – viola
• Alice Hall, Ben Hancox, Yuri Kalnits, Simon Kodurand and Julian Leaper – violin

Vocalists

• Mario Biondi – lead vocals (1, 14)
• Chaka Khan – lead vocals (1, 8), backing vocals (1, 8)
• Vanessa Haynes – backing vocals (1, 4, 9, 12, 14), lead vocals (12)
• Tony Momrelle – backing vocals (1–5, 9, 10, 12–14, 16), lead vocals (9, 13), vocals (15)
• Joy Rose – backing vocals (1, 3–5, 9, 10, 12, 13, 16), lead vocals (3, 10), vocals (15)
• Luckyiam – lead vocals (2)
• Tiffany Smith – lead vocal fills (2)
• Lurine Cato – backing vocals (3, 5, 16), vocals (15)
• Maysa Leak – lead vocals (4), backing vocals (4)
• Gail Evans – backing vocals (4)
• Leon Ware – lead vocals (5), backing vocals (5)
• Ursula Rucker – lead vocals (6)
• John-Christian Urich – lead vocals (7)
• Jean-Paul "Bluey" Maunick – backing vocals (9, 12, 13, 16), lead vocals (16)
• Hilda Campbell – backing vocals (10)
• Miss Cherokee – backing vocals (13)
• Charlise Rookwood – backing vocals (13)

Production

• Jean-Paul "Bluey" Maunick – producer
• Francis Hylton – producer
• John-Christian Urich – additional production (7), recording (7)
• Mo Hausler – recording, mixing, mastering
• Tim Motzer – vocal recording (6)
• Richard Bull – additional engineer
• Dilip Harris – additional engineer
• Joshua Minyard – additional engineer
• Andy Savours – additional engineer
• Tom Stanley – additional engineer
• Ken Karner – design
• Cerraeh Laykin – photography
• Nigel Conway – management
• Takami Maunick – executive assistant

References