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). There was more “cool guitar” music in 2021 -a cover of ’For What It’s Worth’ – a guitar duet between U-Nam and (again) the much missed Ronny Jordan.

The good new is that U-Nam has resurrected the whole Cool Guitars  project via a new single – a gorgeous cover of Teddy P’s Philly classic ‘Love TKO’. On the track the “duettist” is  Grammy-nominated jazzer HENRY JOHNSON. Henry hails from Chicago and learned his stuff playing in Donny Hathaway’s band  and then working with Ramsey Lewis before going out on his own.

Between them, the twosome deliver a respectful  but jazzy and laid back version of this soul classic – lush and silky. U-Nam says: “I’ve had the idea of doing ‘Love T.K.O.’ for a long time. It’s one of those timeless tracks that always stayed with me. But getting to finally record it with Henry just took it to another level. We’ve been friends for years, and this collaboration felt completely natural—meant to be. Honestly, there are moments in the track where even I have to stop and think, ‘Wait, is that him or me?’ That’s how well our guitars blend. It’s not just a duet—it’s a conversation.”

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Out now and recommended!