Urban Knights I
{{Infobox album
| name = Urban Knights I
| type = Studio
| artist = Urban Knights
| cover = Urban Knights I.jpg
| alt =
| released = 1995
| recorded = May 13–22, 1994
| venue =
| studio = River North Studios
| genre = Jazz
| length = 49:50
| label = GRP
| producer = Maurice White, Carl Griffin
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = Urban Knights II
| next_year = 1997
}}
Urban Knights I is the debut album by the jazz group Urban Knights released in 1995 by GRP Records.{{cite work|title= Urban Knights : Urban Knights I|date=1995|publisher=GRP Records}} The album reached No. 5 on the US Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart and No. 9 upon the UK Jazz Albums chart.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/urban-knights/chart-history/JLS/song/179875|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109133427/https://www.billboard.com/music/urban-knights/chart-history/JLS/song/179875|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 9, 2019|title=Urban Knights 1 (Top Contemporary Jazz Albums)|website=Billboard}}
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".{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1995/10/30/urban-knights-gallop-through-a-70s-groove/|title=Urban Knights Gallop Through A '70s Groove|author=Polkow, Dennis|date=October 30, 1995 |website=Chicago Tribune}}
Critical reception
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = Jazz Times
| rev1Score = (favourable)
| rev2 = AllMusic
| rev2score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/urban-knights-mw0000173102|title=Urban Knights: Urban Knights I|author=Henderson, Alex|publisher=AllMusic}}
| rev3 = Philadelphia Inquirer
| rev3Score = {{Rating|2.5|4}}{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/178421044/|title=Fugari, Billy Joe Shaver, Urban Knights|page=122|date=July 2, 1995|author=Stark, Karl|publisher=Philadelphia Inquirer|website=newspapers.com}}
| rev4 = Vox
| rev4Score = (9/10){{cite magazine |last1=Carr |first1=Roy |title=Jazz |magazine=Vox |issue=60 |date=October 1995 |page=95 }}
| rev5 = Charlotte Observer
| rev5Score = {{Rating|3.5|4}}{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/627517610/?terms=%22Urban%2BKnights%22&match=1|title=Urban Knights: Urban Knights (GRP)|author=Wertz Jr., Lawrence|date=June 30, 1995|page=63|publisher=Charlotte Observer|website=newspapers.com}}
|rev6 = Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
|rev6Score = (favourable){{cite web|url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=&sort=YMD_date%3AD&page=11&fld-nav-0=YMD_date&val-nav-0=1995%20-%202005&fld-base-0=alltext&maxresults=20&val-base-0=%22Urban%20Knights%22&docref=news/0EB828EE52800284|title=Hakim, Bailey sweeten jazz-pop album|author=Kovach, Ronald|page=15|date=July 7, 1995|publisher=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|website=newsbank.com}}
}}
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."
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."
Track listing
{{Tracklist
|title1 = On the Radio
|writer1 = Maurice White, Bill Meyers
|length1 = 4:40
|title2 = Wanna Be with You
|writer2 = Wayne Vaughn, Maurice White
|length2 = 4:41
|title3 = Chill
|writer3 = Maurice White, Bill Meyers
|length3 = 6:08
|title4 = Hearts of Longing
|writer4 = Omar Hakim
|length4 = 7:15
|title5 = Friendship
|writer5 = Maurice White, Bill Meyers
|length5 = 4:12
|title6 = Miracle
|writer6 = Ramsey Lewis, Frayne Lewis, Bobby Lewis, Omar Hakim
|length6 = 5:09
|title7 = The Rose
|writer7 = Maurice White, Robyn Smith
|length7 = 6:34
|title8 = Urban Samba
|writer8 = Ramsey Lewis
|length8 = 4:42
|title9 = Forever More
|writer9 = Mike Logan
|length9 = 5:59
|title10 = Senegal
|writer10 = Maurice White, Bill Meyers
|length10 = 6:49
}}
Personnel
- Victor Bailey - Electric bass
- Paulinho Da Costa - Percussion
- The Emotions - Vocals
- Omar Hakim - Drums, vocals
- Jeanette Hawes - Vocals
- Freddie Hubbard - Trumpet
- Sheila Hutchinson - Vocals
- Paul Jackson Jr. - Guitar
- Ramsey Lewis - Piano
- Michael Logan - Synthesizer, vocals
- Bill Meyers - Synthesizer
- Jimi Randolph - Producer
- Wanda Vaughn - Vocals
- Grover Washington Jr. - Soprano and tenor saxophone