On May 9th, the Opera House in Toronto hosted an unforgettable performance by GoGo Penguin, the instrumental trio hailing from Manchester, England. Since 2013, Chris Illingworth (piano), Jon Scott (drums), and Nick Blacka (double bass) have been praised for their originality and inspiration in the music industry.
As GoGo Penguin began their set, the room was filled with the jazz trio’s mesmerizing sound, beginning with “An Unbroken Thread of Awareness.” The group’s chemistry was undeniable, with Illingworth’s intricate piano playing complementing Blacka’s grooving bass lines and Scotts’s powerful drumming.
GoGo Penguin’s setlist was a masterful blend of their original compositions, including “Signal in the Noise,” “We May Not Stay,” “Glimmerings,” “Wave Decay,” “Lost In Thought”, “The Antidote Is in the Poison,” “Friday Film Special,” “Saturnine,” “Soon Comes Night,” “Everything Is Going to Be OK,” “Ascent,” “Murmuration,” “Transient State,” “Hopopono,” and “Protest.”
Despite the minor setback of the pedal on the grand piano breaking, causing a delay of about 20 minutes, GoGo Penguin remained professional and improvisational. This unplanned interlude allowed the audience to witness the trio’s skills of repairing a piano quickly.
As the night progressed, GoGo Penguin’s performance reached new heights with each song. The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly their encore, consisting of “You’re Stronger Than You Think” and “Parasite.” The trio poured their hearts into these final songs, leaving the audience breathless and wanting more.
GoGo Penguin’s performance was a testament to their talent and musicianship. Their music was complex, thought-provoking, and emotive, leaving the audience in awe. The trio’s ability to seamlessly blend their individual styles and create a sound that was uniquely their own was truly remarkable.
GoGo Penguin’s music is a unique blend of break-beats, minimalist piano melodies, powerful basslines, and drums inspired by electronica, combined with anthemic riffs. They compose and perform together as a unit, resulting in a cohesive sound that is both powerful and mesmerizing. Their music draws from a wide range of influences, including electronica, trip-hop, jazz, rock, and classical music.
