{"title":"Amanda Whiting","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmanda Whiting is a performer, composer, educator, and recording harp player from the UK. With her exceptional talent and passion for music, she has captivated audiences worldwide. Amanda's unique style blends elements of jazz, classical, and contemporary music to create mesmerizing compositions that showcase her virtuosity on the harp.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs an accomplished musician, Amanda draws inspiration from a diverse range of artists including Chip Wickham, Gianni Brezzo, Web Web, Dezron Douglas, Jasmine Myra, Greg Foat and many more. Her innovative approach to music sets her apart in the industry and has earned her recognition as one of the most talented harp players of her generation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAside from her remarkable performances on stage and in recordings, Amanda is also dedicated to sharing her knowledge with aspiring musicians. She actively engages in teaching and mentoring programs where she imparts valuable insights into playing the harp and composing music.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"lost-in-abstraction","title":"Lost in Abstraction","description":"\u003cp\u003eFollowing her successful debut album \u003ci\u003eAfter Dark,\u003c\/i\u003e new ideas have led Whiting to create \u003ci\u003eLost in Abstraction.\u003c\/i\u003e More than the expected ethereal washes of sound, the album playfully embraces her many influences into a soundscape of modernity. With rhythmical energies and the indulgent richness of an instrument so often associated with Ashby and Coltrane, the album resonates, leaving the listener lost in abstraction.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"This album explores so many elements of life. From my influences in music, to my own personal struggles. After 2 years of a pandemic, many of us feel lost and confused with our lines blurred. Life is now different. By removing our own applied restrictions of preconceptions and habits, which often choke us, we feel lost. But it is only at this point that we find ourselves.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmanda Whiting - harp \/ Chip Wickham - flute \/ Aidan Thorne - bass \/ Jon Reynolds - drums \/ Baldo Verdú - percussion\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jazzman","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":50397137862987,"sku":"1165695","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/827134f8-62d1-4697-ae91-eafbce6c5147_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726488202"},{"product_id":"lost-in-abstraction-3","title":"Lost In Abstraction","description":"\u003cp\u003eAmanda Whiting - harp\nChip Wickham - flute\nAidan Thorne - bass\nJon Reynolds - drums\nBaldo Verdú - percussion\n\nFollowing her successful debut album After Dark, new ideas have led Whiting to create Lost in Abstraction. More than the expected ethereal washes of sound, the album playfully embraces her many influences into a soundscape of modernity. With rhythmical energies and the indulgent richness of an instrument so often associated with Ashby and Coltrane, the album resonates, leaving the listener lost in abstraction.\n\n\"This album explores so many elements of life. From my influences in music, to my own personal struggles. After 2 years of a pandemic, many of us feel lost and confused with our lines blurred. Life is now different. By removing our own applied restrictions of preconceptions and habits, which often choke us, we feel lost. But it is only at this point that we find ourselves.\"\nAmanda Whiting, 2022\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jazzman","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50397832184139,"sku":"2056016","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/test_7c013234_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726491979"},{"product_id":"the-liminality-of-her","title":"The Liminality of Her","description":"\u003cp\u003eFirst Word Records is very proud to present 'The Liminality of Her', a brand new 10-track album from their newest signing, Amanda Whiting; a highly-acclaimed Welsh harpist \u0026amp; composer.\nA virtuoso in her field, this classically trained musician has quickly established herself as an essential player in the UK jazz scene, carving her own unique sound, following on from the paths forged by Ashby and Coltrane.\nAmanda recently joined the First Word label roster, via a collaborative project with Don Leisure, 'Beyond The Midnight Sun', as well as a feature on his Welsh Music Prize nominated project 'Shaboo Strikes Back'.\nShe's previously toured extensively with her own band, as well as with Matthew Halsall, Rebecca Vasmant, DJ Yoda and Chip Wickham (who also features on this new project), whilst previously releasing three solo albums on Jazzman Records, and a remix project for Scrimshire's Albert's Favourites imprint. Along the way, there's been a nomination for 'Instrumentalist of the Year' from Jazz FM and she's garnered the support of DJs such as Radio 2's Jamie Cullum (\"highly recommended\") and BBC 6Music's Cerys Matthews (\"my highlight of the Cheltenham Jazz festival 2023\").\nThis 10-track album exemplifies Amanda's talents as a performer and composer, taking in an array of hypnotising sonics from the worlds of jazz; from fusion to spiritual and beyond. She is backed with accompaniment from a remarkable set of players in their own right, including Chip Wickham on flute and PEACH. on vocals. A confident display of purposefully blissful compositions that saunter as much as they soothe, whilst being unafraid to lean into some deep uptempo grooves.\nAmanda describes the theme of this project as \"liminality... that place in between, the transition from one place to another. No longer what it was, yet not what it's going to be.\nThe harp always presents itself at these moments. It's a sound that causes an emotion. My instrument chose me. It's been with me through every chapter of life. It's how I speak, especially when there are no words. \nThis album is a rite of passage for \"her\". A feeling of alchemy, a feeling of liberation. Moments of inner searching, intertwined, waiting but moving forward. Never looking back.\n'The Liminality of Her' encompasses the highs and the lows. The nomadic love of freedom and spirituality. It's all so much bigger than you or I…\"\nFrom the cinematic, classical fusion of 'After Dark', to the more playful 'Lost in Abstraction', this album invites you to float in a soundscape of liminality...\n'The Liminality of Her' is released on vinyl \u0026amp; digital worldwide, March 22nd 2024.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"First Word","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50400996327755,"sku":"2185054","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/test_3e61d1d7_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726517990"},{"product_id":"after-dark-3","title":"After Dark","description":"\u003cp\u003eTaking cues from Dorothy Ashby and Alice Coltrane at their most delicate, renowned Welsh harpist Amanda Whiting's mesmerising Jazzman full-length LPAfter Darkarrives as soft as moonlight to gladden the soul and delight the ear—without forgetting to bring the swing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSummoning the nocturnal mood suggested by the album's title, Whiting's harp flows and cascades, dances and alights, broods and haunts, informed by a deep understanding of both classical and jazz music, ultimately revealing a top-drawer composer with rare melodic gifts at the top of her game. From the melancholy opening track 'Time Stands Still' to the more rhythmically unorthodox 'Who Knows' to the achingly beautiful title track, the album is underpinned by a supportive band, John Reynolds on drums and Aidan Thorne on bass, who are perfectly suited to engage in an effortless, intimate musical dialogue.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlready an inveterate international jazz festival performer with Matthew Halsall's Gondwana Orchestra, Whiting has supported and performed with a diverse range of Djs and jazz and pop artists including Jamie Cullum, DJ Yoda, Rebecca Vasmant, True Jazzchild, Danii Minogue, Jazzanova, and Chip Wickham (who features on three tracks onAfter Dark,adding a touch of the graceful warmth for which he has been so justly acclaimed). And as Jazz harp teacher at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, and RNCM, Amanda is as warmly received in the lecture hall as the concert hall. Be sure to to expect more from Amanda in the not too distant future.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jazzman","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50402290434379,"sku":"1117312","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/d69bb13f-845a-43dc-9e7e-242008b2990c_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726539329"},{"product_id":"little-sunflower","title":"Little Sunflower","description":"\u003cp\u003eFrom Wales, the home of the harp, Amanda has taken her classical roots and forged them in the path of jazz harpist Dorothy Ashby. She has toured extensively with Matthew Halsall and the Gondwana Orchestra performing at Jazz festivals around the world. More recent collaborations have included recording with DJ Yoda and Chip Wickham and touring Wickham's latest album including upcoming appearances at Ronnie Scotts and Le Petit Halle, Paris.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhiting's first album was recorded as a trio for CD in 2013, and pays tribute to Coltrane and Ashby with her own take on standards. She's joined by Deej Williams (bass) and Tony Robinson (drums). Here we've taken a selection of tracks for inclusion on vinyl, the best medium for serious music lovers.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jazzman","offers":[{"title":"Black 10\"","offer_id":50526656168267,"sku":"1143695","price":17.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/8d068e13-e905-4722-b351-55c1ff5c761b_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1728046583"},{"product_id":"a-christmas-cwtch","title":"A Christmas Cwtch","description":"\u003cp\u003eFirst Word Records are very proud to bring you 'A Christmas Cwtch', the brand new album from highly-acclaimed Welsh jazz-harpist, Amanda Whiting.\n\nExpertly crafted with love, care and dedication, 'A Christmas Cwtch' takes on assorted classics from the likes of Vince Guaraldi, Bill Evans, Holst and Tchaikovsky, and re-presents them with original arrangements by Amanda and her accomplished trio. The end result is a 14-track selection pack of feel-good seasonal jazz-harp magic, including recent singles 'Peace Piece' and 'Skating'.\n\nAmanda says \"just mention Christmas and you hear Guaraldi, Bill Evans and the sound of sleigh bells and harps. It's my favourite time of year and the music evokes everything warm and cwtchy. Sparkling lights, mince pies, mulled wine and nostalgia around the tree.\"\n\nOn the word 'cwtch', Amanda explains that \"a 'cwtch' is the most important word to Welsh folk. It's a hug, with a little squeeze. It's a feeling. It's cosy, loving and safe. I wanted this album to hold you, cwtch you and allow you to indulge.\"\n\nInspired by artists like Dorothy Ashby and Alice Coltrane, Amanda is a classically trained virtuoso, well established in the UK jazz scene, with releases on Jazzman and Albert's Favourites.\n\nHer most recent projects were released on Worldwide Award-winning UK label, First Word; 'Beyond the Midnight Sun' (with label-mate and Welsh Music Prize nominee, Don Leisure) and the hugely popular 2024 album 'The Liminality of Her', which received widespread praise in outlets such as Jazzwise, Mojo, Clash, Bandcamp, AllMusic, Somewhere Soul, HHV, Apple Music and Harp Column.\n\nShe has had wide support on the airwaves from tastemakers such as Cerys Matthews (BBC 6 Music), Tony Minvielle (Jazz FM), Deb Grant (BBC 6 Music), Patrick Forge (NTS), Soweto Kinch (BBC Radio 3), Kev Beadle (Totally Wired), Tina Edwards (Soho Radio), Laurent Garnier (FiP) and Jamie Cullum (BBC Radio 2).\n\n'A Christmas Cwtch' exemplifies Amanda's talent and personality simultaneously, celebrating an array of her favourite things; the harp, her Welshness, her love of jazz, her love of classical music and her love of Christmas. This album is an absolute delight, and the perfect soundtrack for the season. An essential stocking filler!\n\n'A Christmas Cwtch' is scheduled for December 2nd 2024 release on digital, vinyl and CD.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"First Word Records","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50828795216203,"sku":"2232535","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50828793971019,"sku":"2232532","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/test_a1e73142_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1731517632"},{"product_id":"can-you-see-me-now","title":"Can You See Me Now?","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCan You See Me Now?\u003c\/em\u003e is another triumphant opus from Whiting; laidback, deliciously jazzy and thematically inquisitive, featuring some exceptional production and accompaniment from Adam Scrimshire (Albert's Favourite). The EP begins with the crackling 'Old Ways' intro (inspired by 'Naderman No.6 for Harp') leading into opening track 'Contented'; an epic ethereal piece of tranquil spiritual jazz, complete with the gloriously powerful vocal harmonies of Faye Houston. This sets the mood perfectly for this project, as we head into a short solo for Whiting on 'Still' which appears as it says on the tin. A moment of calm. Lead single 'What Is It We Need?' commences with dusty upright bass from Whiting Trio member Aidan Thorne, ahead of a beautiful goosebump-enducing lead-vocal from the national treasure that is Alice Russell (Tru Thoughts); an absolute powerhouse in her own right. 'Intent' picks up the pace a touch with some delightfully skippy jungle-esque drums from Jon Reynolds. 'It Could Be' follows; a soulful string-laden stepper, again featuring Faye Houston, and hits like the delicate breath of a Summer breeze. We close the set with the appropriately-named 'Moving On', which takes us out with a slightly-warped phasing dreamlike ambience.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe vinyl version of the EP also features two bonus tracks; an instrumental of 'What Is It We Need?' and the wonderful upbeat bop 'Mary Over There', which featured on the recent digital-only deluxe version of 'The Liminality of Her'.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"First Word","offers":[{"title":"EP - Black","offer_id":51937215611211,"sku":"R7567-0784","price":18.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/unnamed_a0f5946f-d261-467a-b871-5f8f75ec28ed.jpg?v=1748697421"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/collections\/test_bade5e77_thumbnail_4096_ea44fe4e-fcf4-49db-8795-b5fea40ea6ab.jpg?v=1726488180","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/collections\/amanda-whiting.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}