Jan Kincaid

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Jan Kincaid is a British drummer and one of the founders of The Brand New Heavies, an English band that started in 1985. Together with Simon Bartholomew and Andrew Levy he formed the group, which was then still called Brother International. The band recorded a demo that was played at the club The Cat in the Hat. Thanks to the good response, the group was booked there.

Music and breakthrough

In 1989 the second single, People Get Ready, appeared. The group added the singer Jaye Ella Ruth and recorded the first album, which was released on 1 June 1990. On the record company's advice, the American singer N'Dea Davenport joined in 1990. With her vocals the album was reissued in 1991 on Delicious Vinyl. It reached number twenty-four on the British album chart. Singles such as Never Stop, Dream Come True and Don't Let It Go to Your Head were successful. After a singer left in 2000, the band's popularity declined, until Davenport returned in 2006 and the album Get Used to It was released. In 2009 the live album Live in London followed, and in 2013 the album Forward.

Influence

The Brand New Heavies are regarded as one of the most important bands of acid jazz, a style in which jazz, funk and soul meet dance music. They sold more than two and a half million records. As drummer, Kincaid held the rhythm of that music together, beneath the playing of the other musicians and Davenport's vocals.

Listening

In School of Rock

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