Taken from his forthcoming album ‘Salt River’, Sam Amidon has today shared his new single Friends and Neighbors, a joyful rendition of Ornette Coleman’s ode to communality. It was initially inspired by Coleman’s time living at Artists House on Princes Street during the late ’60s/70s – an open house to musicians – much like the Jazz Loft documented by American photographer W. Eugene Smith in New York’s flower district.
That community spirit is felt from the opening as we hear the clink of glasses and conversation, and at the end, they all join in on Coleman’s credo—“Friends and neighbors, that’s where it’s at,”
The album was recorded by Amidon, Gendel and percussionist Philippe Melanson, who played together as a trio during sessions at Gendel’s home in Los Angeles. Amidon says: “This album is a campfire, but the campfire is around Sam Gendel’s synthesizer. Or maybe it’s a journey through the corridors of my memory, if my memory was transplanted into Sam and Phil’s dreams.”
Friends and Neighbors is also our Song of the Day.
Salt River will be Amidon’s first record for Rough Trade Records’ sister label River Lea, who have previously released albums with the likes of John Francis Flynn, Lisa O’Neil, Ye Vagabonds and more, confirming its place at folk music’s ever-evolving vanguard.
Forthcoming Tour Dates:
Sat 25th January – Dublin – Gate Theatre ** Details Announced Tomorrow**
Wed 29th January – London – Moth Club **SOLD OUT**
Thu 30th January – London – St Giles, The Crypt **SOLD OUT**
Thu 6th February – New York, NY – Public Records
Sat 8th February – Brattleboro, VT – Stone Church
Tickets via: https://www.samamidon.com/
Pre-Order Salt River: https://samamidon.rtrecs.co/saltriver