All Kinds of Music
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All Kinds of People
Weekend in L.A (A Tribute to George Benson)
U-Nam Biography
“The man known as U-Nam, is destined to become one of the most controversial musicians.In the few recordings that I have heard, there is a conviction towards making himself felt by the general public, and the critics alike. It’s great to have a new voice on the guitar scene; one that is loaded with energy and excitement.” -Ten time Grammy Award recipient, NAE Jazz Master and Guitar legend- George Benson
Born and raised in Paris / France, U-Nam began playing the guitar at age 12, and studied for three years at the Paris-based CIM – the first European school for jazz – between 1986 and 1989. At age 19 he turned professional, becoming a fixture at Paris studio sessions.
Well known throughout Europe and the US as a musical trendsetter and innovative player in Instrumental Music, Soul, and R&B, Emmanuel “U-Nam” Abiteboul has more than earned his reputation as a virtuosic guitarist and producer. Since his move to the US from Paris, France in 2007, Guitarist U-Nam has had the opportunity to perform, record and produce several of the top artists in the Smooth Jazz, R&B, and Soul genres. He has traveled throughout the US at events and Festivals including the Catalina JazzTrax Festival, Jazz on the Green, the JazzTrax Big Bear Festival, the Dave Koz and Friends Cruise et al. His performances extend outside of the US, he performed as one of the headline acts at the Dubai Jazz Festival in February 2010.
Originally a renowned producer, U-Nam has worked with a number of International Artists including Barry White, Kool & the Gang, Honeyz, Louis Fonsi, and MC-Solaar, earning him several Gold and Multi-Platinum records. In 2007, he established himself as a prominent solo artist with the release his sophomore album, “Back from the 80s” which included the #1 hit “Street Life”. “Street Life” stayed in the Top Three on the US Billboard Charts for three months and the Top Ten charts for an entire year.
In 2008, U-Nam signed with the prestigious guitar manufacturer, Ibanez. In their 2009 product catalog, he was honored with a double page feature alongside legendary guitarists George Benson, Pat Metheny, and John Scofield. He has since been featured in the 2010, 2011 and 2012 catalogs.
U-Nam has five album releases as a solo artist. “The Past Builds the Future” (2005) was #2 on SolarRadio UK (the largest soul radio station in the UK). The album had significant radio airplay in Europe and made it into the Top 47 on the US charts. “Back from the 80s” (2007) was the number one album of the year on Jazz FM, Steve Quirk’s Fusion Flavours, as well as a #1 on the US Billboard Charts. “Unanimity” (2009) has reached the Top 30 on the US Billboard charts with his hit single “Shine On”.
In recent years, he also released “The Early Tapes” and “The Best of.” His latest album “Weekend In L.A” ( A Tribute To George Benson ) will be released on August 29th 2012. U-Nam also hosted a successful jazz series entitled the “One-Soul Jazz Series” at the Cellar in Long Beach, California. The series has included popular Smooth Jazz Musicians such as Gregg Karukas, Michael Paulo, Tom Braxton, Kim Waters, Gail Jhonson, and Greg Adams. He was also considered for the 2009 Grammy’s in three categories including Best Improvised Solo and Best Pop Instrumental Song. In recent months, following the newly signed record deals with Village Again Japan and SkyTown Records USA, U-Nam has taken on the ambitious project of creating a George Benson Tribute, acknowledged as no small task by those familiar with the Legend’s music. But according to GB himself, U-Nam is surely qualified for this undertaking.
This album includes a MEGA ALL-STAR line up of artists and musicians including many of the talented performers that appeared on George Benson’s historic albums. Some of the artists on the album include but are not limited to: George Duke, Marcus Miller, Stokley Williams (Mint Condition), Phil Perry, Patrice Rushen, Paul Jackson Jr, Ronnie Foster, Andreas Oberg, Tim “TiO” Owens, Wah Wah Watson, Michael White, Dio Saucedo, and many more.
Within less than two weeks following its release, the album has already reached #1 on iTunes Japan for Jazz, #1 on Amazon US for Neo-Soul, and #1 on Amazon US for Smooth Jazz. It also has 10 entries in 6 categories for Grammy consideration. It has additionally received rave reviews from critics around the world.
As said by George Benson: “This monumental project includes some of my superstar friends who are among the world’s best known artists of our time. It is an honor to be the subject of this new guitar and musical star. This project sounds FANTASTIC…
”This past year, U-Nam also joined the Jazz/Fusion All-Star band “Grafitti” with a line-up that includes Dennis Chambers (Drums), Gary Grainger (Bass) and Haakon Graf (Keyboards). During their successful “Reunion” tour in California, highlighted by the Guitar Center Drum Off at the Club Nokia in Los Angeles, they released a live album called “Live in California”. Grafitti also had a recently successful tour in the famous Igor Butman Jazz Club in Moscow, Russia. T he show sold out every night. In light of this success, Grafitti is preparing for a tour in Europe and Russia.
"This monumental project includes some of my superstar friends who are among the world’s best known artists of our time. It is an honor to be the subject of this new guitar and musical star." - George Benson
U-NAM
http://www.atributetogeorgebenson.com/
http://www.themastermindfactory.com/
http://www.skytownrecords.com/
http://www.facebook.com/unamprod
http://www.twitter.com/unamprod
U-Nam is back with a new original single that will really get you dancing! "C'est Le Funk" has a little it of something that will appeal to those currently digging the funk revival spearheaded by artists such as Daft Punk and Bruno Mars.
Funky is as funky does and U/Nam's C'est Le Funk is the new sound for contemporary instrumental music!
Brent Black / www.criticaljazz.com
For the artists that walk the smoother side of the improvisational street, the groove has remained stagnant for over a decade. The differences between most artists can be measured with a sheet of paper. U/Nam's C'est Le Funk pushes the music forward and drops a groove bomb of flavor and lyrical flow that most artists are still struggling to find. These are old school vibes dusted off with a new cool funk full of attitude and a technical proficiency to match. While there is an obvious George Benson like influence, U/Nam channels this pioneering sound into his own unique presentation. Simply put, no other contemporary artist sounds like U/Nam!
This soulful and soul filled excursion into the land of rhythm and groove contains notable influences from Maze, Earth Wind and Fire and the great Nile Rodgers but U/Nam puts the paddles to the sound of yesterday and updates the funk with fresh beats and a new attitude. "Smoovin" is a stylistic romp with a lyrical sense of purpose while "Something's Up" is indeed a beat you hear with your feet. U/Nam's playing is clean and precise but never sounding as though it has been sanitized for your protection. A highly emotive and deceptively subtle nuanced flair takes over the cover of the Maze classic "Can't Get Over You."
Vocals and production are spot on. While the vibe is from back in the day, the execution is a contemporary onslaught of texture and flavor that makes C'est Le Funk a modern day wonderland of sound and style. This is smooth jazz all grown up! U/Nam is the real deal!
Surface Level
With “Surface Level", Billboard Chart-Topping Artist U-Nam picks up right where he left off with his highly acclaimed and #1 album “C’est Le Funk" (4 singles in the Top30 Billboard Smooth Jazz chart, #18 most played album of the year). He is taking his music to another level, continuing to pay homage to his favorite Funk and Jazz artists from the 80’s (Change, Dayton, Midnight Star, Mi- chael Jackson, Maze and Frankie Beverley) in his own “U"-nique way. ”Surface Level” blends the Contemporary Jazz style with and U-Nam' s inimitable soulful guitar sound and virtuosic play- ing, to crete something that will please the nostalgic 80's Funk Fans as well as the Smooth Jazz Lovers.
The album has a varied mix of different tempo and grooves. Starting with the titles on the funky side, there's the hit single ”Going for Miles” (#23 on the Top30 Billboard), “Surface Level", the tittle track and "Plus de Funk", an uptempo number directly inspired by the late 70's era style of the Jacksons with fiery horns, real strings, and percussion. It also features U-Nam's new protégé and Skytown Records artist, 25 year old Russian Keyboard prodigy, Valeriy Stepanov (whose debut album will be released in 2017).
Additionally, "Surface Level" includes a few mid-tempo tracks such as "Back in Style" and "Groove Paradise", which features string orchestra. There are also a couple covers -"Spice of' Life" (originally recorded by Manhattan Transfer and composed by the one and only Rod "Thrill- er" Temperton) and "The Soz/nd of'Music” (a cover of one of U-Nam's favorite Funk bands from the 80’s, Dayton) featuring U-Nam on Vocoder, Talk Box and Guitar. On ”The Sound of Music", U-Nam is joined by an all-star cast, including Tim Owens, Bob Baldwin, JFIy, Denis Benarrosh, Kim Chandler and Bill Steinway for an 8min long Epic Funk Party!
The album also has a few laid-back numbers such as a cover of the Mary J Blige/Mary Jane Girls' “All Night Long" and the Ragga/RnB vibed "West Indeed” (a play on words with the ”West Indies" of the French Caribbean).
Closing the album is a special song, close to U-Nam’s heart. It pays tribute to his very good friend and Acid Jazz Legend & Guitarist, the late Ronny Jordan who passed away in 2014. The song is a U-Nam original titled “Cool Blue". It's a very organic Acid-Jazz tune that captures the essence of Ronny’s music, with U-Nam adding his own touch on the guitar.
U-Nam recalls:"Ronny used to call me to tell me I was his new, favorite guitarist on the scene - that he really loved my vibe and he wanted me to produce some tracks for him, I was speechless. I’ve always admired him as an artist, guitarist, producer, and trend-setter. I’ve always been a huge fan. I miss him dearly..."
U-Nam, who plays Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Vocoder, and Talk Box on the album is joined by
Baldwin, Dwayne "Smitty" Smith (Boney James), Shannon Kennedy (Groove LTD.), Bill Stein- way (The Crusaders), JFly (Bobby Brown, Peabo Bryson), Ramon Yslas (David Sanborn, Paul Stanley), Tim Owens (AI McKay All-Star, KC & Jojo), Kim Chandler (Michael McDonald, KungFu Panda 3), Fifi Chayeb (Billy Cobham, Larry Carlton), Fran Merante, Denis Benarrosh, Maria Grig, and Raymond Gimenes (Dionne Warwick).