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Product Summary
Song Listing
Disc 1
Song Title
Sample
1. Scirroco ~ Urban Knights
2. Get Up ~ Urban Knights
3. Come Dance With Me ~ Urban Knights
4. South African Jam ~ Urban Knights
5. Brazilian Rain ~ Urban Knights
6. Interlude #1 ~ Urban Knights
7. Summer Nights ~ Urban Knights
8. Tell Me Why ~ Urban Knights
9. Urban Paradise ~ Urban Knights
10. Drama ~ Urban Knights
11. Step By Step ~ Urban Knights
12. Promise, The ~ Urban Knights
13. Interlude #2 ~ Urban Knights
Album Notes and Credits
Notes & Personnel Info |
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Personnel: Jonathan Butler (vocals, guitar); Maggie Brown (vocals); Sheldon Reynolds (guitar, background vocals); Najee (soprano saxophone, flute); Gerald Albright (soprano saxophone); Ramsey Lewis (piano); Bill Meyers (Fender Rhodes, synthesizer, background vocals); Kevin Randolph (keyboards, synth bass); Frayne Lewis (keyboards); Morris Pleasure, Chuck Webb, Verdine White (bass); Sonny Emory (drums); Tony Carpenter, Paulinho Da Costa (percussion); Lambert Anthony, Jim Randolph (drum programming); Chrystle Barrett, Karen Boyd, Carl Carwell, Theresa Davis, Valerie Pinkston Mayo, Maurice White (background vocals). |
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Recorded at Sony Studios, Santa Monica, California. Includes liner notes by Carl Griffin. |
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Personnel: Jonathan Butler (vocals, guitar, background vocals); Najee (flute, saxophone, soprano saxophone); Gerald Albright (soprano saxophone); Ramsey Lewis (piano, electric piano); Bill Meyers (Fender Rhodes piano, synthesizer, background vocals); Kevin Randolph (keyboards, bass synthesizer); Frayne Lewis, Mike Logan (keyboards); Jimi Randolph (synthesizer, programming, drum programming); Sonny Emory (drums); Tony Carpenter, Paulinho Da Costa (percussion); Lambert Anthony (drum programming); Carl Carwell, Karen Boyd, Valerie Mayo, Maurice White, Sheldon Reynolds, Theresa Davis (background vocals). |
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Audio Mixers: Mycle Konopka; Paul Klingberg. |
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Liner Note Author: Carl Griffin. |
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Recording information: Sony Studios, Santa Monica, CA. |
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Photographer: Danny Clinch. |
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Arranger: Maurice White. |
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It's ironic that on Ramsey Lewis' Urban Knights II (GRP), the one holdover from the first Knights project is only featured half the time. Needless to say, that's the more riveting, jazzier half of this Maurice White-produced exercise in easy funk and potent, machine generated urban grooves. Lewis' slowly simmering, coolly rhythmic piano jaunts add flair to middle of the road silky pieces like "The Promise," but are best enjoyed on the two playful solo interludes which create an organic contrast to the slicker fare they complement. The pianist also adds an avant-garde edge to the heavily soundscaped "Brazilian Rain." Aside from Lewis, this all-star affair features some spirited gospel keyboard and vocal flavors surrounding Najee's soprano sax and flute, as well as a "South African Jam" celebration hosted by Jonathan Butler's happy vocals and guitar. While a positive effort overall, for the inevitable Urban Knights III, White would benefit from ditching the machinery and letting his stars jam more spontaneously. ~ Jonathan Widran |
Producer: Frayne Lewis; Maurice White; Verdine White; Bill Meyers |
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Engineer: Jerry Jordan; Mike Konopka; Paul Klingberg |
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Compilation Appearances
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Vol. 2-Two Decades Of Collecte |
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Latino Lounge (eng) |
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No 1 Smooth Jazz Radio Hits |
Technical Info
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Release Date : 04/08/1997 |
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Original Release Date : 1997 |
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Catalog ID : AAGRD 9861 |
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Label : GRP (USA) |
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Number of Discs : 1 |
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Studio/Live : Studio |
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Mono/Stereo : Stereo |
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SPAR Code : n/a |
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UPC : 00011105986120 |
Professional Reviews
JazzTimes (9/97, p.89)
- "...this is a soulful affair with plenty of hip grooving syncopation....South African born Butler interjects shades of Afro-pop. With moods playful to passionate and players in a relaxed goodtime frame of mind, it's a perfect party disc."
- "...this is a soulful affair with plenty of hip grooving syncopation....South African born Butler interjects shades of Afro-pop. With moods playful to passionate and players in a relaxed goodtime frame of mind, it's a perfect party disc."
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