Urban Knights
Encyclopedia
The Urban Knights is an all-star smooth jazz band which features one of the jazz greats, pianist Ramsey Lewis
. Their first self-titled debut album in 1995 included prominent musicians Grover Washington, Jr.
, Omar Hakim
, Victor Bailey and the Emotions to name a few. Other great musicians have collaborated throughout the years with the Urban Knights such as Maurice White
(Earth, Wind & Fire), Gerald Albright
, Najee
, Jonathan Butler
, Norman Brown
, Dave Koz
, Fareed Haque, and Earl Klugh
. In 2000, Urban Knights III, was the supergroup's first album for the Narada label out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Ramsey Lewis
Ramsey Emmanuel Lewis, Jr. is an American jazz composer, pianist and radio personality. Ramsey Lewis has recorded over 80 albums and has received seven gold records and three Grammy Awards so far in his career.-Biography:...
. Their first self-titled debut album in 1995 included prominent musicians Grover Washington, Jr.
Grover Washington, Jr.
Grover Washington, Jr. was an American jazz-funk / soul-jazz saxophonist. Along with George Benson, John Klemmer, David Sanborn, Bob James, Chuck Mangione, Herb Alpert, and Spyro Gyra, he is considered by many to be one of the founders of the smooth jazz genre.He wrote some of his material and...
, Omar Hakim
Omar Hakim
Omar Hakim is an American jazz, jazz fusion and pop music drummer.Hakim credits jazz vibraphonist Mike Mainieri with giving him his first break in 1980; Hakim appeared in a video with Mainieri called The Jazz Life and began working with singer Carly Simon through Mainieri...
, Victor Bailey and the Emotions to name a few. Other great musicians have collaborated throughout the years with the Urban Knights such as Maurice White
Maurice White
Maurice White is a Grammy Award–winning American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, arranger. He is the older brother of Verdine White and Fred White and the leader and founder of the band Earth, Wind & Fire...
(Earth, Wind & Fire), Gerald Albright
Gerald Albright
Gerald Albright is an American jazz saxophonist.Albright has sold over 1,000,000 albums in the U.S. alone. His self-produced music features him on bass guitar, keyboards, flutes, drum programming, and background vocals.- Biography :...
, Najee
Najee
Jerome Najee Rasheed , known professionally as Najee, is an urban jazz saxophonist and flautist.He attended New England Conservatory of Music in Boston where he studied with George Russell and Jaki Byard....
, Jonathan Butler
Jonathan Butler
Jonathan Butler is a singer-songwriter and guitarist. His music is often classified as R&B, jazz fusion or worship music.-Biography:...
, Norman Brown
Norman Brown (guitarist)
Norman Brown is a smooth jazz guitarist & singer, often compared to his contemporary George Benson.-Overview:...
, Dave Koz
Dave Koz
Dave Koz is an American smooth jazz saxophonist.- Life and career :Dave Koz was born on March 27, 1963 in Encino, California....
, Fareed Haque, and Earl Klugh
Earl Klugh
Earl Klugh is an American smooth jazz/crossover jazz/jazz fusion guitarist and composer.At the age of 13, Klugh was captivated by the guitar playing of Chet Atkins when Atkins made an appearance on the Perry Como Show. Klugh was a performing guest on several of Atkins' albums...
. In 2000, Urban Knights III, was the supergroup's first album for the Narada label out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Albums
- 1995 Urban Knights IUrban Knights IUrban Knights I is a jazz album by Urban Knights which was released on GRP records in 1995. The album reached number 3 on the Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums Chart.-Track listing :#On the Radio 4:40...
- 1997 Urban Knights IIUrban Knights IIUrban Knights II is a jazz album by Urban Knights which was released on GRP records in 1997. The album reached number 5 on the Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums Chart.-Track listing :#Scirroco 4:03...
- 2000 Urban Knights III
- 2001 Urban Knights IV
- 2002 Chicago Project, Urban Knights Presents
- 2003 Urban Knights V
- 2005 Urban Knights VI