About Rick Foot

Double bassist and writer of sardonic songs.

As a bass player his background is in jazz and abstract improvisation, and much of his current work is with acoustic singer/songwriters, most recently touring with the Ruth Theodore Band. He has recorded and performed with many people across a range of genres, from folk musicians Nancy Kerr and James Fagan to saxophonists Dick Heckstall-Smith and Evan Parker.

As a songwriter he has released an album (Rain Machine) and an EP (Songs of Idiocy & Expedience) of his own work, which he performs solo with voice, bass and loop device. His 39-second miniature A Message to the Future was a finalist in the 2018 International Songwriting Competition.

"Breathtaking... a distinctive voice" BBC

"Splendid and off-the-wall" Festivals For All

"Conjures an impressive array of sound effects without any electronic trickery" City Life

"A freak" Jersey Evening Post

A biography relating to his electroacoustic alter-ego tarofonika may be found here.


current projects

Covid-19 has changed the landscape completely. Prior to lockdown in the UK in March 2020, there was regular work with Ruth Theodore, Arnie Cottrell, Jo Long, Eva Abraham, Tori Reed and others.

Also with Dan O'Farrell and the Difference Engine

Nancy Kerr's Sweet Visitor band

Australian roots guitarist Derrin Nauendorf

Solo with bass, voice and loop device


photo by Tony Edwards

Recent work

Recording with Luke Daniels and John Dipper, and touring with Luke.

Several tours with Jon Boden and the Remnant Kings.

Two albums of Lorca poems fashioned into songs, and eight years' relentless touring with singer/guitarist Keith James, playing Nick Drake, John Martyn, Lorca and Keith's songs.

Essay in Subha Mukherji's Thinking on Thresholds on Freedom, the eternal present and the death of jazz

Installation piece a phenomenology of identity for the SoundLAB Collective, Cologne


past work

Led Mingus-repertoire band On The Corner for ten years, including two chaotic tours with saxophonists Dick Heckstall-Smith and Ed Jones.

Electroacoustic noise/collage/cut-ups project tarofonika.

Long-running abstract improvising trio with Steve McDade and the late Simon Reeve.

Several tours and an album with Janos Lang's Anglo-Hungarian celtic band Fianna.

Half a dozen tours of the US with celtic band Broderick.

Extensive work in jazz and free improvisation with many different musicians in the UK, Holland and Spain - among them Evan Parker, Lol Coxhill, Harry Beckett, Chris Biscoe, Sarah Gail Brand, Henry Lowther, John Law.



Duo with Eva Abraham:


Duo with Derrin Nauendorf:


 


High resolution photos