Considered greatly as a founding father of the United States of America, Alexander Hamilton was the first United States Secretary, appointed directly by President George Washington. To date, various books, plays, and movies depict his life, story, and importance. Hamilton’s popularity has even created modern-day musicals that have modernized Acting, rapping, and singing all into one and it’s worth going to see! Why are Alexander Hamilton and the musical Hamilton so important? It’s very simple: John Patrick Walker! And the goods coming along with Walker are even more impressive! His debut ‘You and I,’ is something that many music experts, enthusiasts, and lovers of music DREAM FOR! Known as an Actor, Singer, and Songwriter, John Patrick Walker has definitely brought the magic just in time for summer with his ‘You and I’ EP!
No stranger to the entertainment world, Walker has a plus 25-year career with other albums, EP’s, Broadway, Television, and Film experience under his belt BUT IT IS THE ‘You and I’ EP that has truly caught my ears and eyes! Co-produced by Kaufman and completely written by Walker, ‘You and I,’ showcases 6 powerful, eclectic songs that cross genres, evoke passionate feelings, and create a hunger for what more that Walker has to offer! The EP is supported by the following musicians: Percussionist/Drummer Ray Rizz, Bassist Rene Hart and Guitarist, Keyboardist, & Co-Producer Kaufman. Several genres crossover well on ‘You and I,’ but there are tons of just feel good performance onboard that is definitely hard to classify it as feeling based! This EP should be looked upon as a best-selling novel!
The EP opens with true beauty. “Your Open Hand,” is a total throwback, catchy acoustic, feel-good mysterious song. Beautifully performed with Walker’s amazing wife, Actress Hope Davis, both voices have a defining connection between gravity and the universe as this dreamy tune makes you drift away on a cloud, surfing away every so high…The guitar, Wurlitzer, and acoustic drums are just magnificent and moving. “I Won’t Sit Around & Cry,” is definitely the relationship comeback song of 2018! “I won’t sit around and cry…No I won’t sit around and boo-hoo…” direct lyrics taken from this song that screams that love is NOT a game! Such a magnificent sing-a-long concert song! I can see the crowd holding up lighters, cell phones, and chanting those words from a painful place that mean so much in a world where love is just not seen enough…Great performance!
MY FAVORITE AWARD OF THE EP GOES TO THE TUNE “You And I.” Very rarely am I stumped for words but “You and I” feels like AMERICA, The Mommas and the Papas, The Beatles, Ron Isley and the Isley Brothers, Van Hunt, Bon Ivor, and Prince all sat down around a bonfire in the South Pacific on a beautiful island, after sunset drinking light coconut milk; then deciding to write what the world needed to hear. The melody alone is so amazing that it actually takes the place of a single tear drifting from the corner of the eye as it travels down the cheek, slowly…I can’t believe that THIS kind of music exists!
“The Guilty Party,” another standout track, is an amazing story about all the guilty parties in life and feels so vintage that Creedence Clearwater Revival probably could have performed this song during the highest points of their career! Think back to the Summer of 1969, drop top cars cruising all along and out come’s this jewel! Perfect harmony, a slap-happy, steady guitar rifting, and vintage boards that move into something like a U2 transformation- makes an instant happy customer! With a Southern Rock sound, it is easy to forget that this song is truly one filled with sad stories; however, Walker has something truly going on with the song! Great performance!
The last two songs of the EP consist of “Jack O Bells” and “I Can’t Not Do The Robot (When I’m Dancing With You) are true masterpieces! Anyone that can master the true art of telling a fulfilling story, while keeping true to amazing musicianship is truly worthwhile. ‘Jack O Bells’ is a fun sounding song about the life of a clever man that seems to have a carefree style of living! Nothing seems to negatively affect Jack O Bells and that is actually refreshing! Something that everyone should be able to do is live without restrictions! ‘I Can’t Not Do The Robot (When I’m Dancing With You)’ is a fun-sounding 1960’s record with a vintage sounding Farfisa Combo Organ that sounds like The Monkeys ending a world tour! This song is such a stand-up and dance summer anthem and the energy alone will make you smile from ear to ear!
By far, the EP ‘You and I’ is a hidden jewel but one that will do very well in my opinion! John Patrick Walker is touring coast to coast through February 2019 in the Hamilton Musical, so it would be a great place to start checking him out as his music is top notch! With so many sculpted songs off of this EP, AGAIN, it should be a novel as the memories I made while listening to ‘You and I’ ALONE will live forever on in my heart! All around, John Patrick Walker is a MUST SEE and MUST HEAR in my books and I’m here for this style of music any day! Do yourself a favor and grab this EP up today!
Check out at www.jpwalkermusic.com/bio/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/JonPatrickWalkerMusic/
-review by Kelly Tibbs
