UK NOW: GET THE BLESSING & GOGO PENGUIN

Young, British talent in this second edition of UK Now! The members of Get The Blessing are involved in Portishead and Radiohead. Gogo Penguin is the British answer to innovative piano trios such as EST.

Again, two leading bands on this new edition of UK Now!, the concert series for contemporary British jazz at the Bimhuis. Get The Blessing originates from the Bristol trip hop scene. Bass player Jim Barr and drummer Clive Deamer play with legendary formation Portishead and Deamer was Radiohead’s live drummer. Their own band has a unique style combining jazz, dub and rock. The front line with trumpet player Pete Judge and saxophonist Jake McMurchie is audibly fascinated with Ornette Coleman’s wayward trumpet/sax-orchestrations. On top of that, the music on their recent, fully improvised album Lope and Antilope has drawn comparisons with Ennio Morricone, Joe Meek and Lalo Schifrin.

‘This is trip hop-informed contemporary jazz-rock at its very best’ (Time Out London).

Manchester-based Gogo Penguin can be seen as the British answer to such contemporary piano trios as EST and The Bad Plus; alongside jazz and the piano music of the likes Debussy for instance; the band is influenced by pop, rock and electronic music, including Aphex Twin and Massive Attack. During convincing performances at London clubs such as Vortex and Ronnie Scott’s, the young musicians presented themselves as a trinity.

‘The three players and instruments are equal in status; for much of the time they play simultaneously, their individual lines complementing each other and fitting together to create a coherent whole’ (BBC).

The Bimhuis restaurant is open prior to the concert from 6.30 til 8.30PM (reservations via 020-7882158). After the concert, the Bimhuis cafe is open (free entrance).