Urban Knights I

Urban Knights I
Studio album by
Urban Knights
Released1995
RecordedMay 13–22, 1994
StudioRiver North Studios
GenreJazz
Length49:50
LabelGRP
ProducerMaurice White, Carl Griffin
Urban Knights chronology
Urban Knights I
(1995) 		Urban Knights II
(1997)

Urban Knights I is the debut album by the jazz group Urban Knights released in 1995 by GRP Records.[1] The album reached No. 5 on the US Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart and No. 9 upon the UK Jazz Albums chart.[2][3]

Overview

Urban Knights 1 was produced by Maurice White. Artists such as The Emotions, Freddie Hubbard, Grover Washington Jr. and Omar Hakim appear on the album. Urban Knights I also features a cover of Earth, Wind & Fire's 1981 single "Wanna Be with You".[1][4]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Jazz Times(favourable) [5]
AllMusic[6]
Philadelphia Inquirer[7]
Vox(9/10)[8]
Charlotte Observer[9]
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel(favourable)[10]

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."[9]

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."[10]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."On the Radio"Maurice White, Bill Meyers4:40
2."Wanna Be with You"Wayne Vaughn, Maurice White4:41
3."Chill"Maurice White, Bill Meyers6:08
4."Hearts of Longing"Omar Hakim7:15
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

Personnel

Charts

Chart performance for Urban Knights I
Chart (1995) Peak
position
US Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums[2] 3
US Billboard Top Jazz Albums[11] 5
US Billboard Heatseekers[12] 17
UK Top Jazz Albums[3] 5

References

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