Urban Knights
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Urban Knights
| background = group_or_band
| origin =
| genre = {{flatlist|
}}
| years_active = 1995–2005, 2019-present
| current_members =
| past_members =
| associated_acts = Ramsey Lewis, Maurice White
| website =
}}
The Urban Knights are an American all-star jazz fusion band. They released their self-titled debut in 1995. They have a total of 8 studio albums.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/urban-knights-mn0000835450|title=Urban Knights|website=Allmusic.com}}
Overview
The Urban Knight's debut album, Urban Knights I, was released in 1995 by GRP Records. Produced by Maurice White, the album features musicians such as Grover Washington, Jr., Ramsey Lewis, Omar Hakim, Victor Bailey, Freddie Hubbard and The Emotions.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/urban-knights-mw0000173102|title= Urban Knights I|website=Allmusic.com}} The album reached No. 5 on the US Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart and No. 9 upon the UK Top Jazz Albums chart.
The jazz group's follow up album, 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/urban-knights-ii-mw0000019552|title=Urban Knights II|website=Allmusic.com}}
Jazz Times claimed, "With moods playful to passionate and players in a relaxed goodtime frame of mind, it’s a perfect party disc."{{cite web|url=https://jazztimes.com/archives/urban-knights-urban-knights-ii/|title=Urban Knights: Urban Knights II|date=September 12, 1997|publisher=Jazz Times|website=jazztimes.com}}
Don Heckman of the Los Angeles Times found "The music that results can perhaps best be described as rhythm & jazz--bits and pieces of improvising from Lewis and the horn players juxtaposed against insistent, funk-driven rhythms. South African Butler, especially on the tracks in which he sings (“South African Jam” and “Brazilian Rain,” especially), brings a seductive world-music ambience to the proceedings."{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-05-25-ca-62255-story.html|title=Smooth Sale-ing Ahead in the Contemporary Arena|last=Heckman |first=Don|date=May 25, 1997|website=Los Angeles Times}} The album reached No. 7 on the US Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart and No. 24 upon the UK Top Jazz Albums chart.
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.{{cite book|title=Urban Knights: Urban Knights III|date=2000|publisher=Narada Records}} 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."{{cite web|url=https://people.com/archive/picks-and-pans-review-worth-a-listen-vol-53-no-18/|title=Picks and Pans Review: Worth a Listen|date=May 8, 2000|publisher=People|website=people.com}} Hilarie Grey of Jazz Times said "Ramsey Lewis’ Urban Knights III exploits the urban sophistication and stylish blue roots of its Chicago setting".{{cite web|url=https://jazztimes.com/archives/ramsey-lewis-urban-knights-iii/|title=Ramsey Lewis: Urban Knights III|date=June 1, 2000|publisher=Jazz Times|website=jazztimes.com}}
Discography
=Albums=
References
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Category:Jazz fusion ensembles
Category:Smooth jazz ensembles
{{US-jazz-band-stub}}