Biography
GoGo Penguin – the instrumental trio from Manchester, England – have fielded plaudits and rave reviews for inspiration and originality at every turn since 2013, when they settled on their dream line-up of Chris Illingworth (piano), Rob Turner (drums) and Nick Blacka (bass). Fusing jazz, classical and electronic influences (amongst others) with a thirst for innovation, they’ve been garlanded as makers of one of the Mercury Prize album of the year (in 2014) and have enjoyed success on record and in the live arena matched by precious few vocal-free groups post-millennium.
GoGo Penguin’s music has always defied categorization. In their sound, there have been detectable traces of latterday developments in jazz, such as Sweden’s free-thinking Esbjörn Svensson Trio (aka EST), or minimalist classical composers like Steve Reich, John Adams, even Erik Satie. Yet, all in their mid-30’s, you can hear that they have grown up in the golden age of electronica, with echoes ranging from rarefied techno (think Aphex Twin; Carl Craig’s Innerzone Orchestra), and the emotive melodies and crescendos of European house, through to Roni Size’s jazz-infused drum ‘n’ bass.
After that prestigious Mercury nomination for 2014’s v2.0 album, Chris, Nick and Rob worked hard, consolidating their musical bond across a further two albums, which were written and recorded while juggling hectic touring commitments. For GoGo Penguin – their fourth album together (and the third to be released by the legendary Blue Note label following Man Made Object and A Humdrum Star) – they decided to jump off the rollercoaster and devote the majority of their working time in 2019 to pushing at the limits of their music.
Releases
GGP/RMX - GoGo Penguin
GoGo Penguin - GoGo Penguin
Ocean In A Drop: Music For Film - GoGo Penguin
A Humdrum Star - GoGo Penguin
Live at Abbey Road - GoGo Penguin
Man Made Object - GoGo Penguin
Videos
GoGo Penguin “Atomised” (Live)
GoGo Penguin “Don’t Go” (Live)
GoGo Penguin “F Maj Pixie” (Live)
GoGo Penguin “Kora” (Live)
GoGo Penguin “Atomised”
GoGo Penguin: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert
GOGO PENGUIN “BRANCHES BREAK” (OFFICIAL VIDEO)
GOGO PENGUIN “WEIRD CAT” (LIVE AT UNION CHAPEL)
GOGO PENGUIN “ALL RES” (OFFICIAL VIDEO)
SPOTLIGHT
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GOGO PENGUIN STRIVES TO FIND THEIR ESSENCE
When a musical ensemble chooses to self-title an album mid-career, it usually signifies their conviction that they’ve struck upon the motherlode, hit the jackpot, stepped up and generally arrived at a point they’ve always striven for but never quite attained before. Coming from GoGo Penguin at this stage in the game, it’s quite a bold statement: the instrumental trio from Manchester,... read more
News
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GOGO PENGUIN ANNOUNCE NEW REMIX ALBUM “GGP/RMX” OUT MAY 7
A GoGo Penguin remix album feels like a natural progression, but in this group’s true spirit, it never sounds like a predictable move. Since their emergence a decade ago, the Manchester-based trio (pianist Chris Illingworth, drummer Rob Turner, and bassist Nick Blacka) have been internationally hailed as... read more
GOGO PENGUIN RELEASES NEW SINGLE “F MAJ PIXIE” FROM SELF-TITLED ALBUM
Today, UK instrumental trio GoGo Penguin released “F Maj Pixie,” the third single from their upcoming self-titled album out June 5th. Accompanying the single is a live video for the song which exemplifies the band’s mesmerizing live performance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rulvwhkvABE The Manchester,... read more
GOGO PENGUIN ANNOUNCES NEW SELF-TITLED ALBUM; LEAD SINGLE “ATOMISED” OUT NOW
UK trio GoGo Penguin has announced the release of their upcoming self-titled album, which is due out June 5 on Blue Note Records. The announcement comes with the first single “Atomised,” a firm favorite of the band’s that has GGP gliding over a powerful UK garage beat with a propulsive groove that makes for... read more
GOGO PENGUIN ANNOUNCE NEW EP “OCEAN IN A DROP: MUSIC FOR FILM” OUT 10/4
UK trio GoGo Penguin (pianist Chris Illingworth, bassist Nick Blacka and drummer Rob Turner) announce Ocean in a Drop: Music for Film, a new EP to be released October 4th. The five tracks draw inspiration from GGP’s celebrated live soundtrack for Godfrey Reggio’s 1982 cult doc Koyaanisqatsi – the band has... read more
PRESENTING BLUE NOTE REVIEW: VOLUME TWO – SPIRIT & TIME
Blue Note Records presents Blue Note Review: Volume Two – Spirit & Time, the second edition of our vinyl boxset subscription series, which once again was curated by Blue Note President Don Was, and beautifully encapsulates the continuum of the legendary jazz label’s storied past and auspicious future.... read more
Live Dates
Jan 29
GoGo Penguin
Casa da Música, Porto Portugal
Jan 30
GoGo Penguin
Centro Cultural de Belém, Lisboa Portugal
Feb 22
GoGo Penguin
M Jazz 2025, Ciudad De México Mexico
Mar 03
GoGo Penguin
Billboard Live Yokohama - matinee show, 横浜 Japan
Mar 03
GoGo Penguin
Billboard Live Yokohama - evening show, 横浜 Japan
Mar 04
GoGo Penguin
Billboard Live Tokyo - matinee show, 東京 Japan
Mar 04
GoGo Penguin
Billboard Live Tokyo - evening show, 東京 Japan
Mar 05
GoGo Penguin
Billboard Live Tokyo - matinee show, 東京 Japan
Mar 05
GoGo Penguin
Billboard Live Tokyo - evening show, 東京 Japan
Jun 09
GoGo Penguin
Jazz Middelheim 2025, Antwerpen Belgium
