Urban Knights III

by Urban Knights

Overview

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

Product Details

Release Date:	02/29/2000
Label:	Narada
UPC:	0724384849825

Tracks

1. Dancing Angels
2. Do You Still Think About Me?
3. Until We Meet Again
4. The Gypsy
5. Strung Out
6. Sweet Home Chicago
7. You're the One for Me
8. I'm Not in Love
9. Far and Away
10. Broken Mirrors
11. Midnight in Madrid
12. You're the One for Me

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Urban Knights   Primary Artist
Hardeman   Guest Artist,Vocals
Fareed Haque   Guest Artist,Guitar (Acoustic)
Earl Klugh   Guest Artist,Guitar (Acoustic)
Dave Koz   Guest Artist,Saxophone
Calvin Rodgers   Drums (Snare)
Ramsey Lewis   Piano (Grand)
Sharay Reed   Bass
Alejo Poveda   Percussion
Kevin Randolph   Keyboards
Tami   Vocals
Yvonne Gage   Vocals (Background)
The Staples   Vocals
Keith Henderson   Guitar (Rhythm)
Jeff Morrow   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Ira Antelis   Composer
Lambert Waldrip   Composer
Graham Gouldman   Composer
Eric Stewart   Composer
Frayne Lewis   Arranger,Composer,Producer
Mark Bell   Assistant Engineer
Mark Ruffin   Liner Notes
Robert Lewis   Composer
Ramsey Lewis   Composer,Executive Producer
Sharay Reed   Composer
Danny Leake   Engineer,Mastering
Kevin Randolph   Drum Programming,Producer,Composer
Robert Johnson   Composer
Ok Hee Kim   Assistant Engineer
Connie Gage   Design
Mat Lejeune   Assistant Engineer
Charles Bibbs   Illustrations
Steve Hardeman   Composer
William Kilgore   Composer