Urban Knights I

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 Billboard Jazz Albums chart.[8]

Urban Knights I
Studio album by Urban Knights
Released	1995
Recorded	May 13–22, 1994
Studio	River North Studios
Genre	Jazz
Length	49:50
Label	GRP Records
Producer	Maurice White, Carl Griffin
Urban Knights chronology
Urban Knights I (1995) Urban Knights II (1997)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Jazz Times	(favourable) [1]
Allmusic	[2]
Philadelphia Inquirer	[3]
Vox	(9/10)[4]
Charlotte Observer	[5]
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel	(favourable)[6]

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][9]

Track listing

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

[7]

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[7]

Charts

Chart performance for Urban Knights I

Chart (1995)	Peak position
US Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums[8]	3
US Billboard Top Jazz Albums[10]	5
US Billboard Heatseekers[11]	17
UK Top Jazz Albums[12]	5

References

1. Urban Knights. 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 1, 1995). "Jazz". proquest.com. No. 60. Vox. p. 95.
5. Wertz Jr., Lawrence (June 30, 1995). "Urban Knights: Urban Knights (GRP)". newspapers.com. Charlotte Observer. p. 63.
6. Kovach, Ronald (July 7, 1995). "Hakim, Bailey sweeten jazz-pop album". newsbank.com. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. p. 15.
7. Urban Knights : Urban Knights I. GRP Records. 1995.
8. "Urban Knights 1 (Top Contemporary Jazz Albums)". Billboard.com.
9. Polkow, Dennis (October 30, 1995). "Urban Knights Gallop Through A '70s Groove". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune.
10. "Urban Knights: Urban Knights 1 (Top Jazz Albums)". Billboard. Billboard.
11. "Urban Knights: Urban Knights I (Heatseekers)". Billboard.
12. "Official Jazz & Blues Albums Chart Top 30". Official Charts. Official Charts. June 17, 1995.