Featuring:
Chris Illingworth - piano
Nick Blacka - bass
Rob Turner - drums

Manchester, U.K. is as likely a locale as any to host an up-and-coming jazz group whose influences draw equally on experimental electronica, trip-hop, and Shostakovich. The trio GoGo Penguin, featuring Chris Illingworth on piano, Nick Blacka on bass, and Rob Turner on drums, begin with an expansive idea of jazz itself, ready to drop break-beats and reference Massive Attack and Radiohead, but never blast off so far from the roots of jazz that they could be reasonably considered something other than a jazz ensemble. Instead, they widen the borders of what takes place within their jazz—to widespread critical acclaim, and to multiple award nominations for their two albums to date. GoGo Penguin calls upon the music that excites them to make music they are clearly excited about and whether they call it “acoustic electronica” as one critic put it or simply hear it for what it is, audiences so far have responded in kind.