GoGo Penguin
@ the Love Supreme Jazz festival & PizzaExpress Jazz Club
6 July 2019 - 6 July 2013 - 28 March 2013
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Biography
With its eighth release Matthew Halsall’s
Manchester based Gondwana record label shines a light on another
of Manchester’s well kept musical secrets, the expansive,
brilliant piano trio GoGo Penguin. Featuring pianist Chris Illingworth,
bassist Grant Russell and drummer Rob Turner (all still in their
twenties), GoGo Penguin, draw on a heady brew of influences from
Aphex Twin to Brian Eno, Debussy to Shostakovich and Massive Attack
to EST. GoGo Penguin who have already developed a growing cult following
in the North West as well as turning in storming performances at
the Gateshead International and Manchester Jazz Festival’s
first came to Halsall’s attention when he heard them at a
friends night (Norvun Devolution) at the Roadhouse in Manchester.
He was immediately drawn to their sublime collective empathy and
the seamless fusion of jazz, classical and electronica influences
in their music. ‘I was blown away the first time I heard
them, for me tracks like Last Words and HF are modern anthems and
I knew immediately that I wanted to release their music. I am very
proud to welcome them to the Gondwana label.”
GoGo Penguin met whilst studying music at the RNCM
in Manchester. After doing frequent gigs together with various other
bands and musicians they started jamming together and started creating
new music. They had no specific sound in mind, but just wanted to
be free to create freely and honestly. The new band quickly became
a vehicle to combine all the best bits from the music they where
influenced by and loved. Individually Illingworth brings a lyrical
and melodic style influenced heavily by classical piano music and
electronica. Turner brings a driving modern style of drumming influenced
by jazz, electronica, ambient, classical and dance music. Russell
brings a gritty energetic double bass style influenced by the likes
of Charles Mingus but also more modern electronic producers. The
band’s modus operandi is to have one of them bring an idea
to rehearsal. Then there’s a lot of experimentation, they
try out as many different ways to play the piece as they can think
of, until it begins to sound like something they all like.
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