Urban Knights

An all-star collective featuring pianist <a href="spotify:artist:7Kfrmups2Z3ncDQmNS5jRc">Ramsey Lewis</a>, Urban Knights make funky crossover jazz in the spirit of <a href="spotify:artist:7Kfrmups2Z3ncDQmNS5jRc">Lewis</a>' '70s and '80s albums, as well as the work of band's like the Blackbyrds and <a href="spotify:artist:6BufIg68WvvzrEqoDI19Kl">the Jazz Crusaders</a>. With <a href="spotify:artist:7Kfrmups2Z3ncDQmNS5jRc">Lewis</a> at the group's core, Urban Knights have issued a bevy of Top 20 Billboard jazz albums including 1995's Urban Knights I, 2001's Urban Knights IV, and 2005's Urban Knights V.

Formed in 1995, Urban Knights was initially conceived as a showcase for <a href="spotify:artist:7Kfrmups2Z3ncDQmNS5jRc">Lewis</a> and a rotating cast of guest artists. The group's debut album, Urban Knights I, arrived that same year on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22GRP%22">GRP</a> and featured production by <a href="spotify:artist:4QQgXkCYTt3BlENzhyNETg">Earth, Wind & Fire</a>'s <a href="spotify:artist:6T46cZo3M8wXq5eOoXbZBx">Maurice White</a>. Joining <a href="spotify:artist:7Kfrmups2Z3ncDQmNS5jRc">Lewis</a> were a bevy of name performers including <a href="spotify:artist:05YVYeV4HxYp5rrWalvuE1">Grover Washington, Jr.</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:6jJcdCcI6czvcCnM1D1lWg">Omar Hakim</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0fTHKjepK5HWOrb2rkS5Em">Freddie Hubbard</a>, and others. The album reached number five on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart. Urban Knights II followed two years later and again found <a href="spotify:artist:7Kfrmups2Z3ncDQmNS5jRc">Lewis</a> working with producer <a href="spotify:artist:6T46cZo3M8wXq5eOoXbZBx">White</a>. Also coming on board was the pianist's son, keyboardist Frayne Lewis. The album reached number seven on the jazz chart and featured guest appearances by <a href="spotify:artist:3bhckpkRmz8mqONUceSutp">Gerald Albright</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:41F8cUV8LJGVDPNnj0ito3">Najee</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:5gl2M2G5Dn5XTEW30iMMoD">Jonathan Butler</a>, and more.

For 2000's Urban Knights III, <a href="spotify:artist:7Kfrmups2Z3ncDQmNS5jRc">Lewis</a> moved the group to <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Narada+Records%22">Narada Records</a> and enlisted a handful of Chicago-area pros including son Frayne Lewis, keyboardist Kevin Randolph, bassist <a href="spotify:artist:6EZXGhI9nauRevgFl4VUrd">Sharay Reed</a>, drummer Calvin Rogers, and percussionist Alejo Poveda. Also featured are the all-female vocal group the Staples (cousins of the famed <a href="spotify:artist:7xGGqA85UIWX1GoTVM4itC">Staple Singers</a>), saxophonist <a href="spotify:artist:0ZcJXldoq09BRIMl0Qh1Vm">Dave Koz</a>, and guitarists <a href="spotify:artist:00Nnsh2ykMBYnCDsSFGXSY">Earl Klugh</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:0P6TEBXyjHGGl0QxDhbTUv">Fareed Haque</a>. The album peaked at number four on the jazz charts. A year later, <a href="spotify:artist:7Kfrmups2Z3ncDQmNS5jRc">Lewis</a> and the group returned with Urban Knights IV. Joining the ensemble was one-time <a href="spotify:artist:3ZUZYvTkSr7kJQyAXVpqaL">Donald Byrd</a> protégé trumpeter <a href="spotify:artist:3L0AW1880PoPiOzqkAAN5Y">Ron Haynes</a>, as well as guest performer guitarist <a href="spotify:artist:79kOOyVKcrCOKDnzcDHsia">Norman Brown</a>. Showcasing a funky sound reminiscent of <a href="spotify:artist:3ZUZYvTkSr7kJQyAXVpqaL">Donald Byrd</a>'s <a href="spotify:artist:7uykqYYhDUugFJgKZWXIWq">Blackbyrds</a> group, the album peaked at number two on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart.

With 2002's The Chicago Project, <a href="spotify:artist:7Kfrmups2Z3ncDQmNS5jRc">Lewis</a> stepped back from Urban Knights and handed leadership over to his son, keyboardist/producer Frayne Lewis. Also included in the lineup were returning members trumpeter <a href="spotify:artist:3L0AW1880PoPiOzqkAAN5Y">Haynes</a>, bassist <a href="spotify:artist:6EZXGhI9nauRevgFl4VUrd">Reed</a>, guitarist <a href="spotify:artist:0P6TEBXyjHGGl0QxDhbTUv">Haque</a>, and keyboardist Randolph. The elder <a href="spotify:artist:7Kfrmups2Z3ncDQmNS5jRc">Lewis</a> returned the following year for Urban Knights V, which featured appearances by saxophonist <a href="spotify:artist:0Vz0vgVrclNJlHBLrgjklY">Kenny Garrett</a>, vocalist <a href="spotify:artist:6t7nbFAc2dUa7oNu7kBOui">Michelle Williams</a>, and trumpeter <a href="spotify:artist:6KLCldI3XsWUfbuYS32PFw">Orbert Davis</a>. <a href="spotify:artist:7Kfrmups2Z3ncDQmNS5jRc">Lewis</a> was again on board for 2005's Urban Knights VI, executive producing and performing on several tracks with keyboardist Randolph, noted Chicago guitarist <a href="spotify:artist:29107k7pRQHk8z1uuoFQMs">Bobby Broom</a>, bassist Maurice Fitzgerald, drummer Quinjuan Anderson, and saxophonist <a href="spotify:artist:0CVW3i983SxICwe39YLKsM">Nick Bisesi</a>. The album peaked at number six on the Billboard jazz chart. Following an extended period away from the group, <a href="spotify:artist:7Kfrmups2Z3ncDQmNS5jRc">Lewis</a> put together another Urban Knights lineup for 2019's Urban Knights VII, bringing on board guitarist <a href="spotify:artist:2e1eFuakcKML5uV1ZIv9OW">Henry Johnson</a>, keyboardist Tim Gant, bassist Joshua Ramos, and drummer Charles Heath. Also included were vocalist <a href="spotify:artist:22XQ10FqxreYSl3VbofkFR">Dee Alexander</a> and trumpeter <a href="spotify:artist:2eHu2a3osPU7tSMnCw5cgQ">Maurice Brown</a>. Along with original songs, the album featured reworkings of classic songs by <a href="spotify:artist:2hGh5VOeeqimQFxqXvfCUf">John Coltrane</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:5olDKSsFhhmwh8UCWwKtpq">Chick Corea</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:3WrFJ7ztbogyGnTHbHJFl2">the Beatles</a>. ~ Matt Collar, Rovi