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GREG FOAT

London-based keyboardist and composer Greg Foat is back with his new album, 'The Rituals of Infinity'. Greg's first memory with the piano goes all the way back to his Aunt's house at aged 3 - where he fell off the piano stool. Since then, his relationship with the piano has evolved into a fulfilling, and successful career. He began taking an interest in composing at the age of 11, and truly ignited his love for Jazz after attending a workshop with Jeff Clyne, Olaf Vas, Trevor Tomkins and Nick Weldon at the age of 15. He then studied jazz at Middlesex University, followed by 6 months in Sweden on an Erasmus grant which lead to his first professional studio session there at 21. Greg has worked as a professional musician ever since, and has moulded a wonderfully multifaceted career within the Jazz music genre. Greg is planning a debut performance of 'The Rituals of Infinity' at Ronnie Scotts in January.

'The Rituals of Infinity' album is inspired by many things. Some titles are named after iconic science fiction books such as The Rituals Of Infinity, A Private Cosmos, The Dark Labyrinth and The World of the Red Sun. Minerva's Owl, on the other hand, is about the Ancient Greek Legend. "The owl of Minerva takes flight only at dusk." so wrote G. W. F. Hegel, the nineteenth century's major philosopher of history. By that, he meant that any given phase of history can be understood only in retrospect — after it's over. A beautifully fitting closing of the album. The album features the legendary Art Themen on Soprano and Tenor Saxophones, and Trevor Walker on Trumpet and Flugel Horn in a fine supportive role harmonising with Katherine Farnden on Cor Anglais. Natcyet Wakili has such a fluid approach to the drums which really makes the album special, alongside Jasper Osbourne on Bass Guitar. Shawn Lee also stopped by the studio with his horror movie classic waterphone - adding some eery atmospheric finishing touches to the album.

TRACK LISTING

1. The Ticking Clock
2. A Private Cosmos
3. Sun Hat
4. The World Of The Red Sun
5. The Rituals Of Infinity
6. The Dark Labyrinth
7. Minerva's Owl

Large group session featuring deep spiritual modal jazz and new age ambient synthesizer pads.



STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: He's not shy of a new album is he, our Greg? Anyway, The Glass Frog partially eschews his more ambient fare for the group ensemble style of flowing jazzy jams and solos akimbo. Lovely stuff, and a further cementing Foat's deserved reputation as one of the eminent musicians of this generation.

TRACK LISTING

1. Sea Of Tranquility
2. The Glass Frog
3. Foals Of Epona
4. Novilunium
5. Clusters
6. My Love Has Green Eyes
7. O Sacrum Convivium!

Greg Foat is a London-based keyboardist, composer, bandleader and DJ. He claims his life-long love/hate relationship with the piano began at age 3, when he fell off a piano stool at his aunt's house. He started composing around age 11, and at 15 attended a jazz workshop with Jeff Clyne, Olaf Vas, Trevor Tomkins and Nick Weldon, igniting his obsession with jazz music. He furthered to study jazz at Middlesex University, and then studied for 6 months in Sweden on an Erasmus grant. He played his first professional studio session there at 21, and has been working as a professional musician ever since.

Snake Plant Shuffle and Spider Plant Blues are inspired by the the plants on Gregs bedside tables - which periodically move around the house dependent on his mood. The plants provide a good source of oxygen in the room and create a calm soothing atmosphere for Gregs musical projects. Together the tracks feature live drum kits by Ayo Salawu, Fender Rhodes and a plethora of Vintage Synthesisers.

Snake Plant Shuffle has had radio plays in Gemany, Poland and Canada, as well as being heavily featured in Amazon Music's Jazz playlists, including 'Fresh Jazz', 'Coffee Shop Jazz' and 'Café Jazz'. Both tracks are featured in Apple Music' 'Jazz Scene: UK' and 'New Latitudes' playlists.

TRACK LISTING

1. Spider Plant Blues
2. Snake Plant Shuffle

Greg Foat & Gigi Masin

The Fish Factory Sessions (RSD24 EDITION)

    THIS IS A RECORD STORE DAY 2024 EXCLUSIVE, LIMITED TO ONE PER PERSON.

    Fresh off the heels of their critically acclaimed collaboration album, Dolphin, UK jazz metro Greg Foat and Venetian electronic luminary Gigi Masin join forces once again for The Fish Factory Sessions, an exclusive release for Record Store Day 2024.

    This mesmerising studio session was recorded during a live performance at Antonio Feola’s beloved Fish Factory Studios in London, in August 2022. The ensemble that enchanted listeners on "Dolphin" reassembles, featuring the talents of Greg Foat, Gigi Masin, Moses Boyd on drums, and Tom Herbert on bass.

    Within this ambient, somewhat Balearic journey, you'll find alternate renditions of Masin's poignant tribute to his late wife, 'Sabena,' and the atmospheric 'Viento Calido,' both of which graced the original "Dolphin" release. In addition, the album introduces two fresh compositions: the uplifting 'Jubilation' and the extended freestyle opus 'Three Piece Suite,' representing some of the most inspired recordings from their collaboration to date.

    Released as a limited single LP, The Fish Factory Sessions is pressed on translucent sky blue vinyl housed in an untreated card sleeve with spot varnish. Mastered by Mark Ashfield at Cosmic Audio.



    TRACK LISTING

    A1. Jubilation
    A2. Sabena
    B1. Three Piece Suite
    B2. Viento Calido

    Greg Foat & Gigi Masin

    Dolphin

      Recorded remotely during 2021-2022 the album took shape in the form of mutual compositions, gradually developed and embellished online. Final recording sessions took place at the majestic Chale Abbey Studios on the Isle Of Wight with Moses Boyd (drums), Tom Herbert (bass) and Siobhan Cosgrove (flute, clarinet) adding elements to several pieces. Tracks include the reflective, wistful single ‘VientoCalido’ and drifting ambient piece ‘Sabena’, a beautiful tribute to Gigi’s wife who sadly passed away during 2022.

      Greg Foat has recorded prolifically in recent years including acclaimed albums Symphonie Pacifique (2020) and The Mage (2019).
      Best known for his 1986 ambient masterpiece Wind and as a member of Gaussian Curve, Gigi Masin has enjoyed a revival in recent years through his Calypso album on R&S’s Apollo label and renewed touring. Dolphin represents Greg and Gigi’s first landmark recording collaboration together. “I first heard Gigi’s album Wind in 2016,” remembers Greg. “I was living in Miami and I heard it playing one Summer evening. Since then, it has always been in my mind to be able to record together.”

      "This album is a tribute to the joy of playing together and creating something beautiful and exciting. A sincere hymn to life"(Gigi Masin)


      STAFF COMMENTS

      Barry says: Two of the greatest forces in ambient music here, presenting a laid-back suite of shimmering aquatic melodies and deft pad swells, lightened with a deft touch of loungey jazz keys and swimming Balearic groove. Every bit as wonderful as you'd expect from such legendary musicians.

      TRACK LISTING

      1 / A1 Lee
      2 / A2 London Nights
      3 / A3 Love Theme
      4 / B1 Dolphin
      5 / B2 Sabena
      6 / B3 Leo Theo
      7 / B4 Viento Calido
      8. Your Move

      Greg Foat

      Symphonie Pacifique

        Foat has become a versatile mainstay in UK jazz through an acclaimed series of albums on Jazzman and Athens Of The North, moving from soul-jazz workouts to library music to cinematic, haunting compositions and pastoral acid folk. ‘Symphonie Pacifique’ goes expansive and widescreen, building a lush soundscape using choral textures, harp and tubular bells on the atmospheric ‘After The Storm’ alongside sensual groove-based tracks like the undulating ‘Anticipation’, the album title track and Groove Merchant-channelling ‘Nikinakinu’, all driven by Phil Achille on bass, Eric Young on congas and Moses Boyd’s crisp, flowing breakbeats. Other tracks include a moving tribute to KPM library legend Duncan Lamont on the reflective ‘Lament For Lamont’ and the languid, simmering ‘Island Life’.

        The album is a truly international collaboration, recorded analogue and produced by Greg Foat at London’s Fish Factory studios with strings recorded in Edinburgh and choir in Gothenburg. The album was mixed by Mattias Glava at Kungsten Studios in Gothenburg. Cover artwork is based on a painting by early 20th Century Algerian / Parisian artist Henry Valensi.

        STAFF COMMENTS

        Barry says: Greg Foat has always had a firm place on the shop stereo, and 'Symphonie Pacifique' cements that likelihood with a swaying, filmic mash-up of syncopated hooks, frenetic percussion and effortless, jazzy cool. As perfectly redolent of the genre's past as it is it's future.

        TRACK LISTING

        A1. Prelude
        A2. Symphonie Pacifique
        A3. Undulation
        A4. Anticipation
        A5. Mu
        A6. Yonaguni
        B1. Island Life
        B2. Nikinakinu
        B3. Man Vs. Machine
        C1. Before The Storm
        C2. After The Storm
        C3. Meditation On A Pedal Steel
        C4. Lament For Lamont
        D1. Pointe-Vénus
        D2. Mother’S Love
        D3. Epilogue: Three Tenors


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