GoGo Penguin
{{Short description|English jazz fusion band}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{EngvarB|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| background = group_or_band
| name = GoGo Penguin
| image = GoGo_Penguin_Logo_2015.png
| alt =
| caption = GoGo Penguin logo
| origin = Manchester, England
| genre = {{hlist|Jazz|electronica|nu-jazz|ambient|experimental|minimalist}}
| years_active = {{start date|2012}}–present
| label = {{hlist|Blue Note (France)|Gondwana (UK)}}
| website = {{URL|gogopenguin.co.uk}}
| current_members =
- Chris Illingworth
- Nick Blacka
- Jon Scott
| past_members =
}}
File:GoGo Penguin Wien 2018-11-01.jpg in November 2018]]
File:GoGo Penguin at Jazz Alley in Seattle, June 2024.jpg in June 2024]]
GoGo Penguin are an English band from Manchester, consisting of pianist Chris Illingworth, bassist Nick Blacka, and drummer Jon Scott. They formed in 2012 and, as of {{currentyear}}, they have released seven studio albums, two EPs, and three live albums.
History
GoGo Penguin formed in Manchester, England, in 2012.{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}} They released their debut album, Fanfares, the same year, to positive reviews.{{cite web |last=Eyles |first=John |year=2012 |title=Music – Review of GoGo Penguin – Fanfares |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/rz4z |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171126092531/http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/rz4z/ |archive-date=26 November 2017 |access-date=24 September 2017 |website=BBC}} Their follow-up, v2.0, came out in 2014.{{Cite news|url=http://www.jazzwisemagazine.com/pages/jazz-album-reviews/12974-gogo-penguin-v20|title=GoGo Penguin v2.0 review|last=Hasted|first=Nick|date=23 January 2014|work=JazzwizeMagazine.com|access-date=24 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303214250/http://www.jazzwisemagazine.com/pages/jazz-album-reviews/12974-gogo-penguin-v20|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=dead}} In September 2014, it was shortlisted for the Barclaycard Mercury Prize as Album of the Year.
In 2015, GoGo Penguin signed to Blue Note Records.{{Cite news|url=http://www.bluenote.com/news/blue-note-france-signs-gogo-penguin|title=Blue Note France signs U.K. Trio GoGo Penguin|date=2 April 2015|work=Blue Note Records|access-date=24 September 2017}} Their third album, Man Made Object, was published in 2016. They followed it in 2018 with A Humdrum Star.{{Cite news |date=2 April 2015 |title=A Humdrum Star (2018) |work=Blue Note Records |url=http://www.bluenote.com/artists/gogo-penguin/a-humdrum-star |access-date=24 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209044107/http://www.bluenote.com/artists/gogo-penguin/a-humdrum-star |archive-date=9 December 2017}} Their next record, which was self-titled, came out in 2020.{{cite web |last=GoGo Penguin Music |date=3 April 2020 |title=GoGo Penguin – Kora |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njp8_zwlmQI/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406142418/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njp8_zwlmQI |archive-date=6 April 2020 |access-date=14 April 2020 |website=YouTube}}
On 6 December 2021, the band announced the departure of their original drummer, Rob Turner,{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}} who was replaced by Jon Scott. Also in 2021, they released the album GGP/RMX and followed it with Everything Is Going to Be OK in 2023.
Musical style
The band's music features breakbeats, minimalist piano melodies,{{cite web |last=Baber |first=Andy |date=22 September 2014 |title=Album review of GoGo Penguin album v2.0 |url=http://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/gogo-penguin-v2-0 |url-access=registration |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304211308/http://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/gogo-penguin-v2-0 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=24 September 2017 |website=musicOMH}} powerful basslines, electronica-inspired drums,{{cite web |title=GoGo Penguin |url=http://lowfour.tv/shows/gogo-penguin/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161114173735/http://lowfour.tv/shows/gogo-penguin/ |archive-date=14 November 2016 |access-date=15 November 2016 |website=Low Four}} and anthemic riffs.{{Cite news|url=http://igloomag.com/reviews/gogo-penguin-v2-0-gondwana|title=GoGo Penguin :: v2.0 (Gondwana)|last=Nocturnal Ghost|date=23 February 2014|work=Igloo Magazine|access-date=24 September 2017}}{{Cite news |last=Pickup |first=Oliver |date=12 December 2012 |title=Gogo Penguin |work=Crack Magazine |url=http://crackmagazine.net/music/gogo-penguin/ |url-status=live |access-date=24 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830174318/https://crackmagazine.net/article/news/gogo-penguin/ |archive-date=30 August 2018}} Their music also incorporates elements of trip-hop, jazz, rock, and classical.{{Cite news|url=https://ap-reviews.com/2014/03/08/v2-0-gogo-penguin/|title='v2.0' – GoGo Penguin|last=Pallant|first=Adrian|date=8 March 2014|work=AP Reviews|access-date=24 September 2017}}
Critics have compared GoGo Penguin to Esbjörn Svensson Trio, Aphex Twin, Squarepusher,{{Cite news|url=http://spellbindingmusic.com/gogo-penguin-v2-0/|title=GoGo Penguin: v2.0|last=Janssen|first=Guillaume|date=19 September 2014|work=Spellbinding Music|access-date=24 September 2017}} Massive Attack, and Brian Eno,{{cite web |last=Mann |first=Ian |date=22 August 2014 |title=GoGo Penguin – v2.0 |url=http://www.thejazzmann.com/reviews/review/gogo-penguin-v2.0/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925035121/https://www.thejazzmann.com/reviews/review/gogo-penguin-v2.0/ |archive-date=25 September 2017 |access-date=24 September 2017 |website=The Jazz Mann}} as well as modern classical composers Shostakovich and Debussy{{Cite news |last=Heward |first=Emily |date=12 September 2014 |title=Mercury Prize 2014: Manchester jazz trio GoGo Penguin suitably 'chuffed' with nomination |work=Manchester Evening News |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/mercury-prize-2014-manchester-jazz-7764393 |url-status=live |access-date=24 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925035244/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/mercury-prize-2014-manchester-jazz-7764393 |archive-date=25 September 2017}} or contemporary minimal music composers like Philip Glass.{{cite news |last1=Lewis |first1=John |date=1 February 2018 |title=Contemporary album of the month – Laurie Anderson/Kronos Quartet: Landfall – Best of the rest |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/feb/01/contemporary-album-of-the-month-laurie-andersonkronos-quartet-landfall |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204114716/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/feb/01/contemporary-album-of-the-month-laurie-andersonkronos-quartet-landfall |archive-date=4 February 2023}}
Band members
Current
- Chris Illingworth – piano
- Nick Blacka – double bass
- Jon Scott – drums
Past
- Rob Turner – drums
- Grant Russell – double bass
Discography
Studio albums
| class="wikitable" | ||
| Year | Album{{cite web |title=GoGo Penguin {{!}} Album Discography |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/gogo-penguin-mn0003004998/discography |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924230800/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/gogo-penguin-mn0003004998/discography |archive-date=24 September 2017 |access-date=24 September 2017 |website=AllMusic}} | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2012
| Fanfares |rowspan="2"|Gondwana Records | ||
| 2014
|v2.0 | ||
| 2016
|rowspan="4"|Blue Note Records | ||
| 2018 | ||
| 2020 | ||
| 2021 | ||
| 2023
| Everything Is Going to Be OK |rowspan="2"|XXIM Records | ||
| 2025 |
EPs
| class="wikitable" | ||
| Year | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2019
|Ocean in a Drop (Music for Film) |Blue Note Records | ||
| 2022
|XXIM Records |
Live albums
| class="wikitable" | ||
| Year | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2016
|Live at Abbey Road | | ||
| 2020
|Live from Studio 2 | | ||
| 2024
|From the North: Live in Manchester |XXIM Records |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{AllMusic | id= gogo-penguin-mn0003004998 | title= GoGo Penguin}}
- [https://www.npr.org/2018/09/13/647397754/gogo-penguin-tiny-desk-concert GoGo Penguin] 14 September 2018 Tiny Desk Concert
{{GoGo Penguin}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:English jazz ensembles
Category:Musical groups established in 2012