Hampshire & Foat : Saint Lawrence Athens of the North

CD, €16

Captured during two sunny afternoons in September ’17, this ambient jazz folk gem by the much respected duo Warren Hampshire and Greg Foat takes us to a new level of direct performance. Recorded live, with no overdubs, in two churches situated in Saint Lawrence on the south coast of the Isle of Wight, and mixed direct live onto a vintage stereo Nagra IV-S and AKG C24 Stereo microphone, every nuance of the performance is laid bare. Only the ambience of the room and the artists’ skill make the recording what it is.

For a brace of sun-soaked days, Warren and Greg were joined by their longtime musical partners, Phil Achille and Eric Young, and a cadre of local musicians and friends, creating an album that truly captures the magical ambience of the churches and surrounding landscape - even the birds in the Church steeple can be heard at times. Tracks are named after local landmarks, secret beaches, and rural paths that Warren and Greg hold dear.

Limited to 500 copies.

Folk Jazz