Urban Knights III

• Artist: Urban Knights
• Rating:
• Release Date: February 29, 2000
• Total Time: 51:39
• Genre: Jazz

Review

Most artists' idea of giving back to their communities involves some sort of charitable work or financial contribution. On Urban Knights III, legendary pianist Ramsey Lewis reaches deeper, forgoing the the all-star jam concepts of the first two Urban Knights projects (which featured everyone from the late Grover Washington, Jr. to producer Maurice White), and cultivating some of Chicago's most deserving local R&B and jazz talents. Most of the featured players have deals with Lewis' Ivory Pyramid Productions. These core band members consist of keyboardist Kevin Randolph, bassist Sharay Reed, drummer Calvin Rogers, and percussionist Alejo Poveda, as well as the all-female vocal group the Staples (cousins of the famed Staple Singers) and vocalists Tammi and Hardeman. Despite his attempts at being just a supporting member of the band, Lewis can't help but stand out with his glittery, high-register glissandos on the moody "Until We Meet Again" and his crisp ivory improvisations off the kindly melody of "You're the One for Me." Just when you think he's settling in for too many pleasantries, he starts jamming with his able charges on the retro-minded, percussion-aggressive "Far and Away" (with Lewis banging away on electric piano) and on the autobiographical, throbbing bass-driven "Sweet Home Chicago." "Strung Out" isn't the most original R&B ballad in the world, but Lewis makes a great discovery in the towering vocalist Hardeman. With such great young players, one wonders why Lewis couldn't resist the commercial potential of having Dave Koz simmer on "Dancing Angels" and having Earl Klugh and Fareed Haque engage in the playful, steel string-classical guitar duel "Gypsy." Great tunes, but they're bound to take the focus off the kids. ~ Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Dancing Angels	William Kilgore	Urban Knights	(3:59)
Do You Still Think About Me?	Ira Antelis	Urban Knights	(4:00)
Until We Meet Again	Ramsey Lewis, Frayne Lewis, Kevin Randolph	Urban Knights	(4:55)
The Gypsy	Ramsey Lewis, Frayne Lewis, Sharay Reed	Urban Knights	(3:56)
Strung Out		Urban Knights	(4:20)
Sweet Home Chicago	Robert Johnson	Urban Knights	(3:52)
You're the One for Me	Ramsey Lewis	Urban Knights	(4:02)
I'm Not in Love	Graham Gouldman, Eric Stewart	Urban Knights	(4:50)
Far and Away	Ramsey Lewis, Sharay Reed, Kevin Randolph	Urban Knights	(4:10)
Broken Mirrors	Kevin Randolph	Urban Knights	(4:06)
Midnight in Madrid	Ramsey Lewis	Urban Knights	(5:25)
You're the One for Me [Instrumental]	Ramsey Lewis	Urban Knights	(4:04)

Credits

Fareed Haque (Guitar (Acoustic)), Earl Klugh (Guitar (Acoustic)), Dave Koz (Saxophone), Yvonne Gage (Vocals (Background)), Ramsey Lewis (Executive Producer), Ramsey Lewis (Piano (Grand)), Mark Bell (Assistant Engineer), Keith Henderson (Guitar (Rhythm)), Danny Leake (Engineer), Danny Leake (Mastering), Frayne Lewis (Arranger), Frayne Lewis (Producer), Alejo Poveda (Percussion), Urban Knights (Main Performer), Jeff Morrow (Vocals (Background)), Sharay Reed (Bass), Connie Gage (Design), Calvin Rodgers (Drums (Snare)), Tami (Vocals), Kevin Randolph (Keyboards), Kevin Randolph (Producer), Kevin Randolph (Drum Programming), Ok Hee Kim (Assistant Engineer), Charles Bibbs (Illustrations), The Staples (Vocals), Mathieu Lejeune (Assistant Engineer), Hardeman (Vocals), Mark Ruffin (Liner Notes)