Urban Knights I

Last updated
Urban Knights I
Urban Knights I.jpg
Studio album by
Urban Knights
Released1995
RecordedMay 13–22, 1994
Studio
  • River North Studios
Genre Jazz
Length49:50
Label GRP Records
Producer Maurice White, Carl Griffin
Urban Knights chronology
Urban Knights I
(1995)		 Urban Knights II
(1997)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Jazz Times (favourable) [1]
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Philadelphia Inquirer Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Vox (9/10) [4]
Charlotte Observer Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [5]
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (favourable) [6]

Urban Knights I is the debut album of the jazz group Urban Knights released in 1995 by GRP Records. [7] The album reached No. 5 on the US Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart and No. 9 upon the UK Jazz Albums chart. [8] [9]

Contents

Overview

Urban Knights 1 was produced by Maurice White. Artists such as The Emotions, Freddie Hubbard, Grover Washington Jr. and Omar Hakim appeared on the album. Urban Knights I also features a cover of Earth, Wind & Fire's 1981 single "Wanna Be with You". [7] [10]

Critical reception

Langston Wentz Jr. of the Charlotte Observer wrote, "Ramsey Lewis, Grover Washington Jr., Omar Hakim and Victor Bailey all got together to make a pop-jazz album. What do you think the results would be? Each is a super talent with a super history in his own right. Together they combine the best of each other's talents. This is a sizzling piece of work. Smooth at times, mellow and electric." [5]

Ronald Kovach of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel claimed "a few things boost this recording a big notch higher, most notably the presence of drummer Omar Hakim and bassist Victor Bailey the rhythm section during Weather Report's final three years. They are an exceptional unit, and give generous portions of this album a real kick...The music also benefits from better-than-average arrangements (note Lewis' lovely piano intro for the effervescent "Friendship"), impressive variety and a perfect recording." [6]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."On the Radio" Maurice White, Bill Meyers4:40
2."Wanna Be With You"Wayne Vaughn, Maurice White 4:41
3."Chill"Maurice White, Bill Meyers6:08
4."Hearts of Longing" Omar Hakim 7:15
5."Friendship"Maurice White, Bill Meyers4:12
6."Miracle" Ramsey Lewis, Frayne Lewis, Bobby Lewis, Omar Hakim5:09
7."The Rose"Maurice White, Robyn Smith6:34
8."Urban Samba"Ramsey Lewis4:42
9."Forever More"Mike Logan5:59
10."Senegal"Maurice White, Bill Meyers6:49

[7]

Personnel

Charts

Chart performance for Urban Knights I
Chart (1995)Peak
position
US Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums [8] 3
US Billboard Top Jazz Albums [11] 5
US Billboard Heatseekers [12] 17
UK Top Jazz Albums [9] 5

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References

  1. ↑ Urban Knights. Vol. 25. Jazz Times Magazine. 1995. p. 79.
  2. ↑ Henderson, Alex. "Urban Knights: Urban Knights I". allmusic.com. Allmusic.
  3. ↑ Stark, Karl (July 2, 1995). "Fugari, Billy Joe Shaver, Urban Knights". newspapers.com. Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 122.
  4. ↑ Carr, Roy (October 1995). "Jazz". Vox. No. 60. p. 95.
  5. 1 2 Wertz Jr., Lawrence (June 30, 1995). "Urban Knights: Urban Knights (GRP)". newspapers.com. Charlotte Observer. p. 63.
  6. 1 2 Kovach, Ronald (July 7, 1995). "Hakim, Bailey sweeten jazz-pop album". newsbank.com. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. p. 15.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Urban Knights : Urban Knights I. GRP Records. 1995.
  8. 1 2 "Urban Knights 1 (Top Contemporary Jazz Albums)". Billboard.com. Archived from the original on November 9, 2019.
  9. 1 2 "Urban Knights - Urban Knights I". Official Charts Company . Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  10. ↑ Polkow, Dennis (October 30, 1995). "Urban Knights Gallop Through A '70s Groove". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune.
  11. ↑ "Urban Knights: Urban Knights 1 (Top Jazz Albums)". Billboard. Billboard. Archived from the original on November 9, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Urban Knights: Urban Knights I (Heatseekers)". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 16, 2018.
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