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Records are rated on a scale of one (poor) to four (excellent) stars.
Contemporary jazz
URBAN KNIGHTS: "V." Narada Jazz. Three Stars
This band, so to speak -- I put it that way because of the rotating personnel -- is a long-running side project for Chicago- based producer Frayne Lewis, who brought this talent together. Of course, having his father, pianist Ramsey, in the fold makes for good listening.
Leave it to Dad to make even a rave-up such as Marvin Gaye's "Got to Give It Up," the opening track, sound elegant. Other strong tracks include the super-funky, Jeff Lorberish "On the Up," with Kenny Garrett on alto saxophone, cool bass patterns from Maurice Fitzgerald and tight ensemble play; "The New Funktier," with Orbert Davis on trumpet, which recalls Parliament/Funkadelic; and "Church," with Ramsey Lewis featured again.
"Will You Still Love Me?," vocal by Michelle Williams, offers more of a beat and much less bombast than the band Chicago's original version, although it would be hard to redeem that song no matter who performed it. Only "No One," with the vocal by...