Citrus Sun

Citrus Sun emerged as a smooth jazz ensemble assembled by Incognito founder and producer Jean Paul "Bluey" Maunick. To form the lineup he recruited former Average White Band guitarist Jim Mullen along with Incognito drummer Richard Bailey and bassist Julian Crampton, then added horn players Ed Jones, Fayazz Virgi, and Dominic Glover plus pianist Tim Vine. The group’s focused Heads Up debut Another Time Another Space appeared on February 27, 2001. Their sound leans more toward contemporary jazz than the acid-jazz direction Maunick typically explored in his work with Incognito and Maysa Leak. A freer atmosphere pervades the performances, reflecting Maunick’s decision to favor live tracking over the layered overdub process he often employed elsewhere. He further stepped back creatively, inviting the players to contribute their own concepts and deliberately tempering his usual perfectionist standards. The ensemble’s name echoes the particular hue of sunlight near midday. Several pieces convey an airy, buoyant quality, among them “Make Me Smile,” “Tanya’s Song,” “Somewhere, Nowhere,” and the title track, while the low-register saxophone features “Buddapest” and “Blue Orchid” sit alongside the strutting grooves of “So What Do I Do” and “What It Is.”