Artist:Urban Knights
Song:Sweet Home Chicago
Album:The Best of Urban Knights
Urban Knights have been at the top of the jazz charts since they were formed in 1995. Jazz piano legend Ramsey Lewis formed Urban Knights initially so he could record with some of his pals. Later they became a showcase for Chicago's young jazz musicians. The 1995 album Urban Knights was released on GRP Records. The album was produced by Maurice White of Earth Wind & Fire. Lewis was on piano along with veteran musicians like Paul Jackson Jr. on guitar, Victor Bailey on bass, Omar Hakim on drums and Paulinho Da Costa on percussion. Guests included Freddie Hubbard, Grover Washington Jr. and The Emotions. The album reached #5 on the Billboard Top Albums chart. After two albums on GRP, Urban Knights moved to Narada for Urban Knights III. Lewis gave the producer chair to his pianist son Frayne Lewis. Ramsey Lewis still played on most of the album including this cover of Robert Johnson's Sweet Home Chicago. The musicians were younger guys like Kevin Randolph on keyboards, Sharay Reed on bass, Calvin Rogers on drums and Alejo Poveda on percussion. Special guests include Dave Koz, Earl Klugh and Fareed Haque. This album was also a success. When Lewis formed The Chicago Project, he turned Urban Knights over to Frayne who basically kept the same band until 2005. This comp is available as digital download. Urban Knights seemed to end at that point. But Lewis signed with Ropeadope Records and released the 2019 album Urban Knights VII. It's a completely different band but I'm sure they follow Lewis' formula. I suppose fans will like it. Here's the video for Sweet Home Chicago by Urban Knights.
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