The is the fifth album from the rotating smooth jazz all-star showcase
Urban Knights, and it continues with much the same flavor as the group's previous releases: a mix of post-bop jazz influences and straightforward R&B. The album opens with an instrumental version of
Marvin Gaye's "Got to Give It Up" featuring bandleader
Ramsey Lewis covering the main vocal parts with his piano. Two collective originals follow, leading into
Michelle Williams' soft vocals on "Will You Still Love Me?" "On the Up" is an original with a thick electronic funk thanks largely to
Kenny Garrett. Another group original follows in the same vein, although the collective takes on
Johnny Nash's "I Can See Clearly Now" yield mixed results, holding
Steve Zoloto's sax over the top of a groove. Some contemporary R&B pokes through on "No One," and
Orbert Davis invokes a bit of
Miles Davis on his trumpet over the funk of "The New Funktier." After another short R&B romp, the album finishes on a pair of
Hans Zimmer numbers from the
Gladiator soundtrack. As far as smooth jazz goes, this is an outstanding collection from the all-stars of the genre, complete with some thoroughly worked-out funkiness at the hands of
Lewis as the need arises. For the mix of originals and covers, the album, overall, does quite well. Both newcomers to the genre or old
Ramsey Lewis fans should give it a listen . ~ Adam Greenberg