Classically trained Welsh harpist Amanda Whiting follows up last year’s A Christmas Cwtch with this six-track EP, out next Friday. It blends jazz, soul and spiritual concerns in ways that, for some, will conjure the smooth jazz of the late 1970s and early ‘80s. Others are sure to hear echoes of Van Morrison’s more ethereal outings, such as Inarticulate Speech of the Heart, with the primary difference being the presence of Whiting’s lilting harp in lieu of Morrison’s bleating sax. Celestial harmonies, as on those Morrison outings, are also present.
Released as a single a few weeks back, “What Is It We Need?” features vocalist Alice Russell. it’s a soulful prayer for peace, love and togetherness—things we all need more of, these days. The instrumental tracks that surround it are calm-inducing marvels. “Contented” and “It Could Be” are accented by the heavenly choirs of a multi-tracked Faye Houston, while “Intent,” “Still” and “Moving On” emphasize the euphonious sounds of Whiting’s harp and heart. Also on hand for the magic: upright bassist Aidan Thorne and drummer Jon Reynolds.
It’s a sublime set, albeit one that seems too short. (The vinyl version, it should be noted, features two additional tracks: “Mary Over There” and an instrumental rendition of “What Is It We Need?”) The press release quotes Whiting as explaining that it’s a themed release: “[T]he EP is about the journey as a woman and the stages of life. Standing up and being seen. An important and profound message in the world today.”
The Old Grey Cat 
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