Review Doesn t seem that long ago that we were enjoying a new album from soul/jazz guitarist EMMANUEL U-NAM ABITEBOUL. Future Love was a classic guitar-led smooth jazz set and featured a new take on Luther Vandross Get It Right . That was followed by the single Soul Walkin a jaunty foot tapper that had only been available on Japanese versions of Future Love . Demand, though, was such that U-Nam has decided to make Soul Walkin a focus track on another new long player... The Love Vault . However, new isn t quite the right adjective. You see most of the cuts come from U-Nam s extensive archive (hence the album title) and he says that this has given him the opportunity to re-visit old friends and offer things that have been hidden away for far too long! The album boasts plenty of tight soul grooves like the aforementioned Soul Walkin ... things like Love Potion but there s plenty of variety. Amongst the highlights is a sweet Sexy Fresh a lush production that might call to mind some of Barry White s work with Love Unlimited. Hear My Dear (a nod to dear old Marvin) is another shimmering production with Magdalena Chovancova on saxes. There s also a couple of vocoded items and you can also enjoy U-Nam s recent high profile outing with James Day under the name JD s Time Machine. The track, of course, is Celebrate Your Body a big summer tune and great to have it on The Love Vault which is released on Skytown records on October 11th. --soulandjazzandfunk comFabulously funky. Hypnotically rhythmic. Soulfully Sophisticated. Those six powerful words alone could be the entire overview of this album. But that would be an injustice to the newest project from the genius guitarist, composer and producer U-Nam. Soaring from the success of his previous Billboard Top 25 Smooth Jazz album Future Love, U-Nam picks up where he left off and continues the unfinished work of this album s predecessor. The Love Vault, due to be released October 11 on this own Skytown Records label, was born out of U-Nam s vast collection of previously unpolished, unrecorded or archived songs in the musician s extensive arsenal of music. Amid his infectious guitar licks lies a hip and rich sound that is heavy on throwback funk influences. Sexy Fresh, the albums premiere release, emits a romance drenched vibe that is funky and alluring. Love Potion is an intoxicating concoction of guitar, unrelenting rhythm, and one of U-Nam s signature arrangement sounds, synthesized string accompaniment, yet another trademark of the retro dance groove. Applying the innovative technology of talk box and vocoder, U-Nam implements vocals on a couple of tracks, including Back Seat Lover ( previously recorded by Mayer Hawthorne). Uptempo, happy and addictively appealing, this particular track rates among my favourite on The Love Vault, and the backing vocals of Gennine Francis-Jackson infuse some soulful dynamics and depth. In what is an glaring tribute to the sound of soul music s legendary love walrus, Barry White, Hear, My Dear draws from the title of Marvin Gaye s late 70s hit Here My Dear. The amazingly talented saxophonist Magdalena Chovaancova fo the Euro jazz trio Threestyle lends her talent on this swagger filled groove accompanied by lush string arrangement and additional horn backing. Into The Night delivers an afterhours, fast moving cool drive down the strip on a summer night. Among the many admirable techniques of U-Nam s music is the meticulous arrangement and production expertise, and if my memory is correct, he ranks as the only artist I know that consistently employs strings and horn backing that delivers a multi layered and dimensional sound to his natural artistic brilliance. The Love Vault is unlocked and fully unleashed with a sublimely polished groove, and a sound that is contagious and uncontainable. --Stu Berketo - Wavefm comThe set starts off with Love Potion. The song is really a party starter, and you can hear the late 70 s funk edge to it. U-Nam is playing over that beat like it is a jam session, and you will immediately realize that he is a master of the guitar. We especially like the breakdown at about three minutes in. You also get a little icing on that dessert with a taste of the vocoder in the track. Back Seat Lover is up next. This is a vocal track....sort of. U-Nam s vocoder provides the lead vocal. This is another uptempo party track where the keyboards drive the song. The backing vocals will definitely make you sing along. If I had to sum up U-Nam s style with one track, it would be Sexy Fresh. This is a mid-tempo groove with a bassline that will make you groove in your seat. You will also hear the George Benson influences with the guitar riffs. This is some great musicianship right here. If you are ready for some 80 s retro funk, then You and Me (High Priority) is for you. I am getting some P.Y.T (Pretty Young Thing) vibes here. You really cannot go wrong with these synthesizers and U-nam once again shows off the guitar riffs. It is time to break it down a little with Sharlee. I will go out on a limb and say this track will be one of your favorite Smooth Jazz slow jams of 2019. It really has a nice arrangement and it is a song that should be on your desert island playlist. Soul Walkin is up next. Now it seems like we are driving through the decades, as this one has a slight New Jack Swing beat to it. If you listen closely, you will hear those horn hits in the background. This was a staple in 90 s R&B. This is a total feel good song. Into The Night is up next. This track really shows off U-Nam s guitar prowess. This track also has an Old School flavor and the song should put him up there with the guitar greats of today. In Sunset Groove, you get a mid-tempo song with a nice guitar lead, BUT we have some horns that compliment that lead guitar. The piano fills complete the song. I am sure you all will like this track. If you want to hit the dance floor, then Celebrate Your Body is the one for you. This is a cross between 70 s disco and current EDM. This is the instrumental version of the J.D s Time Machine hit that was released earlier this year. Whether you like the vocal or the instrumental, this track will get you out of your seat. The set concludes with Hear My Dear. The track features Magdalena Chovancova on the sax and flute. This definitely has a Barry White vibe, and it goes without saying that you cannot get too much of that! Check it out below. Nostalgia is the theme for this album. U-Nam is great at creating music that brings you back just a little. There are several tracks that stand out, and I am sure that you will add several songs from The Love Vault (Future Love Part 2) to your playlist. --Keith R. - The Jazzworld com