Three artists who've worked prominently with
Ramsey Lewis'
Urban Knights group take center stage on
The Chicago Project. Trumpeter
Ron Haynes, guitarist
Fareed Haque, and keyboardist
Kevin Randolph under the production guidance of
Urban Knight Frayne T. Lewis have concocted a funky and slick offering sure to please most smooth jazz aficionados. While these beat-heavy selections contain all the hallmarks of radio-friendly instrumental pop-jazz, there is the aura of something new here. Perhaps it's the Chicago post-rock, avant-jazz connotation of bands like
Tortoise and Isotope 217 that lends a progressive edginess to this "project." Or, maybe it's the odd, angular keyboard background flourishes that add a forward-thinking, protean future feel to this otherwise mainstream production. Truthfully, though, there is little to compare on
The Chicago Project with the experimental noodlings of the likes of
John McEntire or
Rob Mazurek. Primarily this is hip, danceable, studio-perfect music that references the best of European acid jazz. Highlights include pianist
Randolph's blissed-out Rhodes solo on "All the Way" and
Haynes' Harmon-muted feature "On the Block," which he opens up sans mute halfway through in true
Donald Byrd fashion. ~ Matt Collar