Listen to "Sunrise": Click here!
Saturday, December 16, 2023
Saturday, October 21, 2023
Sunday, July 16, 2023
Monday, November 7, 2022
Friday, September 10, 2021
Saturday, August 28, 2021
Sunday, March 7, 2021
Monday, February 8, 2021
Unreleased Studio Tracks
At last, in summer 2021 the new "Blue Knights" album will be released. Two month ago however, there was a "Special Collectors Edition" of eight unreleased studio tracks for all "Blue Knights" fans! Click here!
Saturday, February 6, 2021
FOREIGN NATURE feat. Blue Knights
Coming soon: The original title "Foreign Nature" by "Colors In Motion" was published in an abridged version (2:40) worldwide in 1996. This short version is still in demand and often played in several smooth jazz radio stations. After 25 years Curtis MacLaw mixed this title again and recorded guitars, bass, smooth beats and synthesizers. As a result, the 4 minute extended version "Foreign Nature" (Radio Edit) feat. "Blue Knights" will groove into the hearts of many fans.
In April 2021 a remixed edition with several "Foreign Nature" versions will be released. As a bonus track, the EP also contains the never released original extended version of "Foreign Nature"
YouTube Video
Spotify, Deezer, iTunes, Tidal, Amazon...
Thursday, October 10, 2019
Bill Joseph Flynn of Blue Knights
The Canadian Guitarist, Bill Joseph Flynn, who is working with Curtis McLaw and Jay Heye: "We have been working for some time now on this new album and many tracks are mastered. We are also trying some new ideas and arrangements before it's release in the future. We are very grateful for the continued support for "Blue Knights". - Stay Tuned!
Thursday, December 22, 2016
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Jay Heye
Classical piano lessons were pure groundwork for Jay Heye and a useful finger exercise. He fell for jazz and boogie-woogie at a very early age „much to the dissapointment of all my aunts, my grandmothers and my mother".
Friday, October 24, 2014
Music of Blue Knights
The music of Blue Knights is cool, contemporary jazz. The piano is moody, the sax is sexy and the guitar stings and teases. A follow-up release to their chart-topping Blue Night, the music of Blue Knights is music for jazz fans as well as New Age music lovers. The uptempo beat guides Blue Knights relaxed fusion jazz sound but can be just as adaptable to the dance floor. The music is complex, offering numerous interpretations, but never becomes overly serious. A line here and a note there remind the listener that jazz is serious fun.
Friday, September 12, 2014
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
The best way to relax
Curtis is very often in Hamburg's Hafen-City to just watch the ships coming in on the "Elbe".
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Curtis McLaw meets Martin Böttcher
Martin Böttcher: Wikipedia
Martin Böttcher: Website
Friday, June 20, 2014
Night Talk
Many years ago, Curtis McLaw was running a studio that turned out soundtracks for movies and television commercials. Jay Heye was a TV moderator just down the hall. The two struck up a friendship and discovered a shared love for the funkier sounds of urban America. After experimenting in McLaw’s studio 1, they decided to indulge that love by launching a new group. The result was Blue Knights, authors of a string of popular releases that routinely conquer the Progressive Jazz charts on both sides of the Atlantic. The two Blue Knights complement each other almost perfectly. McLaw, 40, is a guitarist and keyboard player with a strong rock background and a magician’s gifts in the studio. (He is also one half of the instrumental duo Dancing Fantasy, whose releases regularly top the New Age charts.) Heye has played piano for all but five of his 33 years. Over that time, he has absorbed influences as disparate as Quincy Jones, Prince and jazz great Oscar Peterson, his pianistic hero. Add the rock- and blues-flavored guitar of Bill Joseph Flynn and the expressive saxes and flute of Mr. P.T. and you have the Blue Knights, edition 2000 - four good friends, four very accomplished musicians. Like most Blue Knight releases, Night Talk is a joint creation.
It should quickly be added that - again like all Blue Knights releases - Night Talk establishes a pleasant, infectious groove from the beginning and never loses sight of it, whatever the mood or tempo of a particular cut. “Saturday Morning” sets the laid-back, upbeat tone from the opening bars. Listen especially to Mr. P.T.’s nifty way with the main theme. The title cut is a lovely ballad highlighted by Mr. P.T., this time on soprano sax, supported beautifully by McLaw’s and Heye’s keyboard work. It’s surely one of the outstanding cuts in a CD full of memorable songs. Consider “Dubai Dance,” for instance, an funky nod to the exotic Middle East - or “Miami Groove” with its strong, simultaneous hints of calypso and salsa over a funky urban beat. Favorites anyone? If we were voting ours would probably be Jay Heye’s gorgeous piano solo, “The Moon.” It’s righteous, romantic, lyrical - memorable. It’s unique on the album - the only all-acoustic piece in a studio-wizard’s world. Yet it fits marvelously, perhaps because it’s ultimately what the Blue Knights are all about - beautiful music, beautifully played.
Produced by Curtis McLaw at Studio 1.
Curtis McLaw & Jay Heye (keyboards) Bill Joseph Flynn
(guitar) Mr. P.T. (saxophone, flute)
01. Saturday Morning (4.06) 02. Blue Train (4.42) 03. Vegaz Dance (4.07) 04. Night Talk (4.51) 05. Funky Bill (3.50) 06. Miami Groove (3.37) 07. Smooth Night (4.06) 08. Paris-Texas (3.21) 09. First Date (4.20) 10. Dubai-Dance (3.52) 11. Next Sunset (5.04) 12. Boogie 99 (3.22) 13. The Moon (4.50) 14. Marmaris-Out (4.03)
01. Saturday Morning (4.06) 02. Blue Train (4.42) 03. Vegaz Dance (4.07) 04. Night Talk (4.51) 05. Funky Bill (3.50) 06. Miami Groove (3.37) 07. Smooth Night (4.06) 08. Paris-Texas (3.21) 09. First Date (4.20) 10. Dubai-Dance (3.52) 11. Next Sunset (5.04) 12. Boogie 99 (3.22) 13. The Moon (4.50) 14. Marmaris-Out (4.03)
Thursday, June 19, 2014
Night Talk - Customer Reviews
This is slick smooth jazz. Easy on the head, but strong enough to get those hips movin' if you want to. Play it anytime!
Why Has It Taken This LongTo kill some time today I decided to read some customer reviews on CDs that I had owned. I was very surprised to see that only 1 person had reviewed this CD and that was only recently. As good as this CD is I had expected to see more. All the songs are piano accompanied with guitar, sax and flute and are all very smooth and relaxing. My favorites are "Next Sunset", "Saturday Morning", and "Smooth Night". This is a great CD to listen to while driving or cleaning the house.
Five Stars
Great CD, would buy more from this artist.
This might be my favorite CD of all I own...
This is might be my favorite CD of all I own. I have all the Blue Knights CDs except „Straight from the heart wich I cant seem to locate anywhere.
Ascoltate l'armonia della musica...
Quest'album da l'idea di quello che la musica strumentale può esprimere,con semplici giri di note e dolci ballate gli stumenti ti accompagnano in una atmosfera dove la fantasia ti porta a giro per il mondo che sia al mare in momtagna o in compagnia della tua dolce metà....che musica!
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Tropical Night - Customer Reviews
Another Winner From Blue Knights
By A Customer on April 19, 2004
A follow up to their all time best seller, Red Night, and the hottest release from the group that started the "acid Jazz" phenomenon.
jazz meets dance
By K. Warner on November 8, 2000
More interesting than smooth jazz, more rich than pure dance, Blue Knights takes strong influences of both to create cool grooves. "Tropical Night" collects enough material for an entire studio album plus a few previously hard to find tracks including a slowed-down version of their club/trance track "Gimme all your lovin'" as well as two other rare gems from
BLUE KNIGHTS Tropical Night
by ken dillman on January 8, 2012
Tropical Night was a bit fast-paced for my liking as Blue Knights music goes; I've always appreciated their languid, meandering smooth jazz stylings over their more up tempo offerings. The music was somewhat predictable; in the same way that eating a bag of generic brand potato chips is predictable in taste. When I listen to Blue Knights I want to feel like I'm cruising down the Pacific Coast Highway in a convertible at midnight, rather than feeling like I'm stuck in LA rush hour traffic. Nevertheless, if you're a Blue Knights fan you'll find it acceptable.
More interesting than smooth jazz, more rich than pure dance, Blue Knights takes strong influences of both to create cool grooves. "Tropical Night" collects enough material for an entire studio album plus a few previously hard to find tracks including a slowed-down version of their club/trance track "Gimme all your lovin'" as well as two other rare gems from
BLUE KNIGHTS Tropical Night
by ken dillman on January 8, 2012
Tropical Night was a bit fast-paced for my liking as Blue Knights music goes; I've always appreciated their languid, meandering smooth jazz stylings over their more up tempo offerings. The music was somewhat predictable; in the same way that eating a bag of generic brand potato chips is predictable in taste. When I listen to Blue Knights I want to feel like I'm cruising down the Pacific Coast Highway in a convertible at midnight, rather than feeling like I'm stuck in LA rush hour traffic. Nevertheless, if you're a Blue Knights fan you'll find it acceptable.
Monday, June 16, 2014
Blue Knights
The music of Blue Knights thrives on rhytmus and a very jazz influenced groove-piano. Amazing production, rich sounds and some very tight arranging and playing will capture all fun loving music gourmets. Music to dance to, songs to relax with, melodies like a sunset and rhytmus that are perfect for lovers and dancers. A combination of colour and sensual music. Sexy jazz, light house grooves, some fine piano playing and high class audiophile production turn this music into a first rate music.
Curtis McLaw who reached with his band Dancing Fantasy the Billboard Top 20 in USA, shines here as a producer on another project. While the distinct Dancing Fantasy sounds captures an ever growing audience worldwide, Curtis and his production ideas are too big for just one project. The debut album „Blue Nights” was an instant hit especially with US radio, climbing the US-charts rapidly. The up-tempo happy-jazz/fusion that Blue Knights Mixes with soft funk and relaxed dancefloor proved to be an audience favourite.
The guys from Blue Knights sure like to listen to Sade’s „Smooth Operator” and the Shakatak of some years ago. Very airy, light jazz piano, simply beautiful melodies and a rich tapestry of sound layers, all designed to transform the music into a perfect lovers night. When the lights of the city start to glimmer at sunset, many coloured nightlife fantasies converge in musicians’ minds. The happymakers of the german instrumental scene put you in a good mood, cheer you up and refresh their listeners withe the party urge.
Saturday, June 14, 2014
Friday, May 16, 2014
Red Night
The Red Night album by Blue Knights was released 1994 on the Innovative Commun. label (IC-Digit). Producer: Curtis McLaw. Composers: Curtis McLaw and Jay Heye. Red Night CD music contains a single disc with 12 songs.
Red Night is cool, contemporary jazz. The piano is moody, the sax is sexy and the guitar stings and teases. A follow-up release to their chart-topping Blue Night, Red Night is music for jazz fans as well as New Age music lovers. The uptempo beat guides Blue Knights relaxed fusion jazz sound but can be just as adaptable to the dance floor. The music is complex, offering numerous interpretations, but never becomes overly serious. A line here and a note there remind the listener that jazz is serious fun. ~ MusD
Bill Flynn (guitar)
Mr. P.T. (saxophone)
Geza Gal (trumpet, flugelhorn)
Jay Heye (keyboards, programming)
Curtis McLaw (keyboards, programming)
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Curtis McLaw
I first met Jay Heye 1992. He played piano in smoky clubs at night. Some of his titles already had the spirit of "Blue Knights ". I told him about the success in USA, at that time California Groove had landed at number 6 of the Billboard-Charts. I had an idea, that I couldn't realize with "Dancing Fantasy". The project should be more groove-oriented and a guitar or a piano should be put in as main-instrument. Since until then Jay Heye is the absolutely most groovy pianist that I have heard, he fited into my ideas wonderfully. He is a solid component of "Blue Knights" from the beginning. Without Jay Heye, I probably would still be on the search. We reached with the second album "Red Night", number 15 in the USA Billboard-Charts. The most played song is still „Soft Silk“ with the amazing guitar by Bill Joseph Flynn. It is also unbelievable how many stations are still playing this song. I had already suspected that during the production.
Friday, April 18, 2014
Blue Night – Customer Reviews
This is an awesome album. Very smooth music and keeps you in an upbeat mood. Love to listen as I drive and it can be very romantic.
Looking for this CD a long time!
Why is this CD out of stock? Some of my favorites include Catwalk, En Vogue, and Copa Cabana. Please get it back in stock! Thank you!
Blue Night
If you’re into upbeat tempo style jazz this group has it all the piano player is nothing short of special.
Outstanding music
Fantastic, lively jazz music with a melody. Among my favorite cd’s.
amazon.com
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Archival Interview
Blue Knights
Interview October 1994 (previously unpublished)
In October Blue Knights (Curtis McLaw, Jay Heye) was already at work on new studioprojects in the German recording studio-1, but only a few weeks previous they had completed a successful American tour promoting their second album Red Night (1993). Even though many European artists have yet to make it to North America due to the high travel and transport expenses DA music and Innovative Communications put together a mini-tour that included both Blue Knights and Dancing Fantasy, since both groups had made the charts in the U.S. and Curtis McLaw is the producer of both. The groups combined the studio musicians each had used into one super group, including George Bishop on sax. Dancing Fantasy would months later feature the concerts in their album Live USA.
What prompted the forming of the Blue Knights? Curtis and Jay met in a music store where Jay was playing and trying out a synthesizer. Curtis was amazed by Jay's "right into the pocket funky jazzy" playing and asked him if he wanted to work with him. You know the rest.
How were the U.S. tour dates? Do you plan to return? We played in Dallas, San Francisco, and Detroit. The audience in all three places was just great and we had the chance to play on the same stage with guys like Joe McBride and Richard Elliot whose music we really love. We can't wait to come back--hopefully in the Spring of '95.
Blue Knights has been called new instrumental, ambient-jazz, and a host of other names. Curtis referred to it as "happy-jazz" in an interview. How do you see the group being labeled? It's difficult to say. It's a mixture of almost everything: pop, jazz, funk and even dance floor!
Jay, what is your musical background and major influences? I grew up listening to black American music guys like Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder. I have maintained a certain view of music: always in the pocket and always for the dance floor. I also dig European bands like Level 42 and Nick Keshaw.
Curtis, after different projects, (Dancing Fantasy and Blue Knights) what are your next project ideas in the pipeline? All I can say is "You'll hear from me!"
Colors In Motion Project / amazon.com
In October Blue Knights (Curtis McLaw, Jay Heye) was already at work on new studioprojects in the German recording studio-1, but only a few weeks previous they had completed a successful American tour promoting their second album Red Night (1993). Even though many European artists have yet to make it to North America due to the high travel and transport expenses DA music and Innovative Communications put together a mini-tour that included both Blue Knights and Dancing Fantasy, since both groups had made the charts in the U.S. and Curtis McLaw is the producer of both. The groups combined the studio musicians each had used into one super group, including George Bishop on sax. Dancing Fantasy would months later feature the concerts in their album Live USA.
What prompted the forming of the Blue Knights? Curtis and Jay met in a music store where Jay was playing and trying out a synthesizer. Curtis was amazed by Jay's "right into the pocket funky jazzy" playing and asked him if he wanted to work with him. You know the rest.
How were the U.S. tour dates? Do you plan to return? We played in Dallas, San Francisco, and Detroit. The audience in all three places was just great and we had the chance to play on the same stage with guys like Joe McBride and Richard Elliot whose music we really love. We can't wait to come back--hopefully in the Spring of '95.
Blue Knights has been called new instrumental, ambient-jazz, and a host of other names. Curtis referred to it as "happy-jazz" in an interview. How do you see the group being labeled? It's difficult to say. It's a mixture of almost everything: pop, jazz, funk and even dance floor!
Jay, what is your musical background and major influences? I grew up listening to black American music guys like Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder. I have maintained a certain view of music: always in the pocket and always for the dance floor. I also dig European bands like Level 42 and Nick Keshaw.
Curtis, after different projects, (Dancing Fantasy and Blue Knights) what are your next project ideas in the pipeline? All I can say is "You'll hear from me!"
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Friday, January 24, 2014
Blue Knights & Dancing Fantasy live in USA
Blue Knights & Dancing Fantasy - Concerts USA 1994
Chris W.Williams, Dirk Erchinger, Curtis McLaw, Bill Joseph Flynn, George Bishop, Jay Heye.
Chris W.Williams, Dirk Erchinger, Curtis McLaw, Bill Joseph Flynn, George Bishop, Jay Heye.
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Sound check in Detroit - Blue Knights & Dancing Fantasy
"Blue Knights" and "Dancing Fantasy" at the sound check in Detroit before their sold out concert in the "Messonic Temple" in the 90s.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
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