Greg Foat and Gigi Masin team up on new LP, Dolphin

Electronica veteran Masin and leading jazz painist Foat collabrate on eight track album

Greg Foat. one of the UK’s leading jazz pianists, has teamed up with Italian purveyor of dreamy electronica Gigi Masin, for a forthcoming eight track LP.

Dolphin utilises “an electric piano, sounds from my digital library and an old iPad2” (Masin) and “grand piano, vibraphone and lots of vintage synthesizers” (Foat), with the former’s melancholy melodies meeting the latter’s laid back, slo-mo grooves.

“Through my record collection, which is full of jazz, to my friendship with Kenny Wheeler, and chats with Paula Bley, I would say I’m definitely a jazz man of sorts. I love many genres and have a desire to explore my musicality; a desire to create melodies, moods and atmospheres flows from me, spilling right over genre lines,” says Masin.

“The live music played by myself, Moses and Tom on real instruments, blended organically with the digitally created music by Gigi. To me there’s no overarching theme to the album, other than I love Gigi’s music and wanted us to record together. The oil painting featured on the album cover – also called ‘Dolphin’ – is by my cousin Niul, and provided a broad inspiration for the feel of the record,” comments Foat.

“I think above all it’s a tribute to the joy of playing together and creating something beautiful and exciting. It’s a sincere hymn to life and humanity, and as with all my records, is a personal exploration and translation of life moments,” continues Masin.  “I was sure that Greg’s extreme musical ability would respect and give further light to the ideas I proposed. I find it really unique, listening to the record now; it’s not easy to distinguish where my contribution ends and where his begins. It’s a beautiful fusion because it was so natural.”

The album was developed remotely before culminating in some recording sessions in the stunning surrounds of Chale Abbey on the Isle Of Wight, with the additional talents of Moses Boyd on drums, Tom Herbert on bass and Siobhan Cosgrove on flute.

The pair have shared a video for ‘Viento Calido’ from the LP as a taster for what’s to come.

The eight track LP is set for release on June 16.

Pre-order the album in indie exclusive limited clear vinyl, black vinyl and CD form by clicking on the relevant link.