{"product_id":"1335097","title":"Whitaker  Matthew - Connections [CD]","description":"Brand New From Reputable UK Company With 30 Years Experience In Retail, Please Note Not All Our New Items Are Shrink Wrapped.\u003cbr\u003eAll items shipped within 3 working days of payment.\u003cbr\u003ePlease note that all our DVDs are Region 2.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePlease note that not all audio CDs are shrink-wrapped fom the factory.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs more than a year of lockdown and collective isolation appears to be ending, Matthew Whitaker - the twenty-year old keyboardist from New Jersey\\u2014has released an exciting, expansive new recording entitled Connections. Aptly titled for this pivotal moment, the sixteen-track collection is his third album and serves as both a bold declaration of Whitaker's maturity as a player, composer and bandleader, and as a statement of musical connection - and re-connection, as Whitaker points out.\\r\u003cbr\u003e\\r\u003cbr\u003e'Connections is really about this idea of community, of musicians and family and everyone really, coming back together after being separated for so long,' Whitaker says. 'It's about how grateful I am for the connections we have with each other musically and spiritually as well. More than my other albums, this one has music that was created in the studio, improv moments that happened live. A few of these songs I wrote during the pandemic so I'm happy we were able to record those, and I'm excited. This is more expansive than anything else I've done!'.\u003cp\u003e\\r\u003cbr\u003e\\r\u003cbr\u003eConnections features music composed both before and during (and in reaction to) the pandemic, and recorded mostly between March 2 and 4, 2021. It includes a generous mix of original compositions with message-driven titles of uplift and instruction ('A New Day,' 'Acceptance,' 'It Will be Okay,' 'Stop Fighting'), balanced with familiar melodies by Whitaker's musical heroes, from Duke Ellington ('Don't Get Around Much Anymore'), Stevie Wonder ('Lately'), and gospel singer Richard Smallwood ('Trust Me'), to Duke Pearson ('Jeannine'), Chick Corea ('Spain'), and Thelonious Monk ('Bye-Ya') - this last one a sparkling, standout duet with pianist Jon Batiste.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJourney Uptown\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA New Day\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBye-Ya (Ft.  Jon Batiste)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSpain\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eConnections\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eStop Fighting\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLately (Stevie Wonder Cover)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI'm Sorry\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJeannine\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDon't Get Around Much Anymore (Ft.  Regina Carter)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBle Rondo A La Turk\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTrust Me\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt Will Be Okay\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGarden Wall\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAcceptance\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis Eye Is On The Sparrow\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Chalkys.com","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55129057165697,"sku":"1335097","price":7.98,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0056\/8043\/1219\/files\/418SVT9Jm_S._SL1500.jpg?v=1766810155","url":"https:\/\/chalkys.com\/products\/1335097","provider":"Chalkys.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}