Urban Knights

The Urban Knights are an all-star jazz fusion band.[1]

Urban Knights
Genres
Years active1995–2005, 2019-present
LabelsGRP, Narada
Associated actsRamsey Lewis, Maurice White

Overview

The Urban Knight's debut album, Urban Knights I, was released in 1995 by GRP Records.[2] Produced by Maurice White, the album features musicians such as Grover Washington, Jr., Omar Hakim, Freddie Hubbard and The Emotions. The album reached the top five on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart.[3]

The jazz group's follow up LP, Urban Knights II was released in 1997 by GRP. Once again produced by Maurice White, the album features saxophonists Gerald Albright and Najee as well as guitarists Jonathan Butler, Verdine White and Morris Pleasure.[4]

During 2000, the group's third studio album, Urban Knights III, was issued on Narada Records. Artists such as Dave Koz, Earl Klugh, and Fareed Haque played upon the LP.[5] People proclaimed "sixties jazz-pop pioneer Ramsey Lewis (“The In Crowd”) contributes keyboards on 10 of these 12 tracks by the latest group of hot, young Chicago musicians he has assembled for this urbane joust."[6] Hilarie Grey of Jazz Times said "Ramsey Lewis’ Urban Knights III exploits the urban sophistication and stylish blue roots of its Chicago setting".[7]

Discography

Albums
Year Title Peak chart positions Record label
US Jazz
[8]		 US Con. Jazz
[9]		 UK
Jazz
1995 Urban Knights I 5 3 9[10] GRP
1997 Urban Knights II 7 5 - GRP
2000 Urban Knights III 4 3 - Narada
2001 Urban Knights IV 2 1 - Narada
2002 Chicago Project, Urban Knights Presents - - Narada
2003 Urban Knights V 15 7 - Narada
2005 Urban Knights VI 6 4 - Narada
2019 Urban Knights VII - - - Rodeadope[11]

References
  1. "Urban Knights". Allmusic.com.
  2. "Urban Knights I". Allmusic.com.
  3. "Urban Knights 1 (Jazz Albums)". Billboard.com.
  4. "Urban Knights II". Allmusic.com.
  5. Urban Knights: Urban Knights III. Narada Records. 2000.
  6. "Picks and Pans Review: Worth a Listen". people.com. People. May 8, 2000.
  7. "Ramsey Lewis: Urban Knights III". jazztimes.com. Jazz Times. June 1, 2000.
  8. "Urban Knights: Jazz Albums". billboard.com. Billboard.
  9. "Urban Knights: Contemporary Jazz Albums". billboard.com. Billboard.
  10. "Urban Knights: Urban Knights I". officialcharts.com.
  11. https://www.allmusic.com/album/vii-mw0003311865/releases
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