New Review of U-Nam “Love in Motion” on the Wave.fm
U-Nam
Love In Motion
When you’ve got a great thing going, there’s never any need to take your foot off thepedal in my opinion. That seems to be a theory embraced by the incredibly innovativeguitarist, producer, composer, and record label proprietor U-Nam upon his new releaseLove In Motion and his third instalment of the Future Love concept.
Picking up where he left off with his two previous masterpieces, U-Nam delivers anotherfunk, soul, fresh, hot and hip new 7 song compilation that shines with exciting rhythmic and infectious melodies and arrangement and production values that are first rate. Adding an additional dimension to this project, is U-Nam’s incorporation of stylish brassby Joabe Reis on trombone and Christian Martinez on trumpet and flugelhorn. And ifthat’s not enough to make this record spark, the string work of Lyudmila Kadyrbaeva oncello and Maria Grig on violin/viola turn these songs into funky symphonies.
Whiz Kid (The) should be a simple reference to the uncompromising creativity andingenuity U-Nam has built his reputation on time and time again, and this first single andcurrent Wave Top 10 smash is a dance/funk marathon, again, complemented with hornsand strings. When I asked U-Nam about the peculiarity of the song title, he stated thathe had the classic cinematic line from the 007 movies in mind, where the lead characterintroduces himself as ‘Bond..James Bond’. Okay then. Works for me.
Changing Times, Miss Funk, Instance Girl are more fine examples of the uptempourban panache that U-Nam’s work is soaked in, each with their own identifying creativequalities and retro richness that he has applied to his craft. One particular track fans willhave elevated appreciation for is his very cool, happier and brighter interpretation of Buffalo Springfield’s curfew-protest classic For What It’s Worth. This particular trackincludes the work of late and highly revered UK guitarist Ronny Jordan on lead guitar.Although the song stayed unpolished for years, it’s believed to be one of the last piecesof work Jordan recorded that only now is seeing light.
Always the ‘romantique’ one at heart (or perhaps with heart), U-Nam delivers two slowertempo offerings with the title song Love In Motion, and Perfect Match (The WeddingSong). Each deliver a soft, smooth, and dare i say sensual and sexy performance anddemonstrate U-Nam’s versatility and multi-dimensionality. I particularly liked the addedtouch of a few gentle guitar bars of ‘Here Comes The Bride’ to conclude Perfect Match.
The Future Love concept is a testament of U-Nam’s resilience to overcome personaldrama and setbacks such as a complicated divorced in recent years, allowing him tochannel his inner emotions and tensions into his love and passion that we know as hismusic. Redirecting his energies has obviously proven to be cathartic and on careerlevel, highly successful.
How long the Future Love album concept continues, only the French born guitarist cansay. But like a serial novel you can’t resist, or an ongoing Netflix series you binge on, hedefinitely will leave craving and desiring more.Reviewed By Stu BerketoOn-air HostWave.fm/ 94.7FM HD2 & 95.9FM HD2
https://wave.fm/index.php/album-reviews/547-u-nam-2
First Review of U-Nam’s New Album “Love in Motion” on Soul&Jazz&Funk.com
The busily prolific U-NAM (guitar star EMMANUEL ABITEBOUL) continues his ‘Future Love’ series of albums with a third episode, due May 28th. The new album is called ‘Love In Motion’ and U-Nam says that the concise 8 tracker “continues to use the creative process to purge the emotions and relieve the tensions that, from the debris of a complicated divorce, had threatened to engulf me”.
Sonically the album follows the template of the first two editions of ‘Future Love’. That’s to say the music is classy, guitar led smooth jazz with a soulful undertow and plenty of Benson-esque jazzy flourishes. Some of the cuts are tougher and funkier than other (‘Miss Funk’ is the obvious example) while others, like the album’s title cut are more laid back, sensual even.
The set’s focus cut appears to be the opener, ‘Whizz Kid’ – a breezy and tight groove that encompasses everything we’ve come to expect from U-Nam. The radio edit of the tune closes down the album.
‘Love In Motion’ also offers a “bonus” track – U-Nam’s version of Buffalo Springfield’s ‘For What It’s Worth’ which he recorded in duet form with the late Ronny Jordan. The track originally appeared on the ‘Cool Guitars volume 2’ but good to hear it in this new context.
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Soultracks.com: A shining final recording from Ronny Jordan
(February 11, 2021) Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth” is one of the definitive protest songs of the 1960s. The tune was inspired by a specific protest – the closure of a Los Angeles night club. However, because of the lyrics that paint a picture of young people protesting injustice being judged by the old people in the establishment and harassed by law enforcement, and because it was released in 1967 at the height of the Vietnam war, “For What It’s Worth” became an anti-war anthem. In fact, plenty of people think the song is about Vietnam.
Like other socially conscious songs from that era, ranging from “Blowin’ In the Wind” to “Say It Loud (I’m Black and I’m Proud),” “For What It’s Worth” has aged very well. The current era of social awareness and unrest was in its early stages when the late, great guitarist Ronny Jordan used his six string to record an unfinished instrumental version of the 60s anthem prior to his tragic death in 2014. U-Nam and Jordan had been friends and collaborators for years.
U-Nam and producer Vernon Clark tracked down the original tapes in hopes of completing the song so that it could be included on album Cool Guitars that is due to drop in February. The updated version gives the track an element of funk and an instrumental conversation between Jordan, U-Nam and bassist Alex Al – a legend in his own right who has provided the bottom for just about everybody. U-Nam’s reimaging of the song honors his late friend and brings back a song that is both timeless and timely. Check out “For What It’s Worth” here.
By Howard Dukes
https://www.soultracks.com/first-listen-cool-guitars-for-what-its-worth
Cool Guitars on Soul&Jazz&Funk.com
Back in 2016 jazz guitarist U-NAM and Vernon Clarke (CEO of the Cool Guitars accessory company) put together a collaborative guitar album, called, obviously, ‘Cool Guitars’. The 7-tracker featured U-Nam in guitar duets with people like Mark Bowers, Nick Morrison and Ronny Jordan (who, of course, sadly died in 2014).
U-Nam always knew there had to be a second album and right now that’s what he’s putting together and to whet appetites he’s just released the very first track from it – a properly funky and fierce version of Buffalo Springfield’s ‘For What It’s Worth’. On it he trades guitars licks with the aforementioned Ronny Jordan. The track, it seems, was one of many that Jordan was working on just prior to his too-early passing. U-Nam sees the now finished track as the ultimate homage to a dear friend. Featuring input from people like Alex Al (Michael Jackson, Brian Culbertson, Dave Koz, Stevie Wonder) on bass and Bill Steinway (The Crusaders, Larry Carlton) on both Fender Rhodes and Hammond B3, U-Nam’s sure (and we agree!) that Ronny would be mightily pleased with the end result.
‘For What It’s Worth’ is out now and a ‘Cool Guitars volume 2’ will be out later in the year!
Swedish Keyboardist Mattias Roos and American-Danish Smooth Jazz Star Michael Lington are teaming up on “Bring It Up”
| Los Angeles, October 1st, 2020 A Scandinavian smorgasbord of the tastiest kind, Swedish keyboard player Mattias Roos has teamed up with Danish American sax-man Michael Lington for a fresh new take on the wonderful “Bring It On” that first appeared on Roos’ 2019 recording “It Goes On and On”. Going for adds on October 5, this vibrant, groove laden and totally memorable number is not only everything that mid tempo smooth jazz should be but also one of four bonus tracks that can be found on a deluxe edition of “It Goes On and On” which will be released October 2 on the Skytown Records label. As well as “Bring It On” (that is included both as the album version and the radio edit) this deluxe offering also features a stunning high-octane remix of the Mattias Roos composition “Masterpiece” and the brand new never previously recorded “River of Love” that underscores the skill Roos has for fusing smooth jazz grooves with an authentic old school vibe. Although a solo artist and ‘go-to’ keyboard player for several top-flight Swedish performers, many will know Mattias Roos as a founding member of the band Soweco that he formed in 2011 with drummer Peter Gustavsson. Roos has carried some of that distinctive Soweco sound into what is now a burgeoning solo career but with critically acclaimed projects such as “My Story”, “Movin’ Up” and most recently ”It Goes On and On” he has fashioned an identity that is very much his own. As for Michael Lington, since relocating to Los Angeles from Denmark in 1990 he has built a reputation for being one of the most soulful sax players in smooth jazz. He is also a tremendous live player and early opportunities in this respect came when he joined Bobby Caldwell’s renowned touring band. He has also performed as part of a sold out, coast to coast Barry Manilowtour and as Manilow himself put it “Michael Lington is one hell of a sax player. He absolutely brought down the house every night.” As a recording artist Lington’s 1997 eponymous debut set the standard for what was to come and now, ten albums later, he is still essential listening for all those who like their smooth jazz spiced with a modicum of soul. ### https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08JHC72R4/ It Goes on and On (Deluxe Edition) by Mattias Roos https://music.apple.com/us/album/it-goes-on-and-on-deluxe-edition/1532427549 |
