Penguin Cafe Orchestra
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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The Penguin Cafe Orchestra (PCO) was a collective of performing musicians created by classically trained British guitarist, composer and arranger Simon Jeffes. Jeffes and cellist co-founder Helen Liebmann were core members throughout its life and a number of other musicians joined as the band grew and developed, many of whom appear on the PCO's six studio albums.
The PCO toured extensively during the 1980s and 1990s, and two albums, When in Rome... (1988) and Concert Program (1995) captured the sound of the live ensemble. The Penguin's sound is not easily categorized, but has elements of exuberant folk music and a minimalist aesthetic occasionally reminiscent of composers such as Philip Glass. The Penguin Cafe Orchestra recorded and performed for 24 years until Jeffes died of a brain tumour in 1997.
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Discography
Studio albums
- Music from the Penguin Cafe (1976) OBSCURE 7, later EEGCD 27
- Penguin Cafe Orchestra (1981) EEGCD 11
- Broadcasting from Home (1984) EEGCD 38
- Signs of Life (1987) EEGCD 50 - UK #49
- Union Cafe (1993) ZOPFD 001
- A Matter Of Life... (2011) (As Penguin Cafe)
Extended play
- The Penguin Cafe Orchestra Mini Album (1983) EGMLP 2 – Six-song mini-LP consisting of 2 previously released tracks, 2 live tracks, and 2 new compositions.
Live albums
- When In Rome... (1988) EEGCD 56
- Concert Program (1995) ZOPFD 002
Collections
- Preludes, Airs & Yodels (A Penguin Cafe Primer) (1996)
- A Brief History (2001) CDV 2954
- History (2001) Virgin Records LCO 3098
- The Second Penguin Cafe Orchestra Sampler (2004)
Simon Jeffes albums
- 'Still Life' at the Penguin Cafe (1990) DECCA 425 218-2
- Piano Music (2000) ZOPFD 003 – Solo pieces, collected after Jeffes' death.
Soundtracks
- Night Shift (1982) ("Cutting Branches for a Temporary Shelter")
- Malcolm (1986)
- She's Having A Baby Trailer (1988) ("Music For A Found Harmonium")
- Oskar und Leni (1999) (10 songs, all new recordings of previously released tracks from back catalogue)
- Chuck and Buck (2000) ("Air a Danser," "Paul's Dance," "Prelude and Yodel," "Nothing Really Blue")
- Slim Susie (2003) ("Perpetuum Mobile")
- The Good Girl (2002) ("Air" and "Steady State")
- The Princess and the Warrior Official Soundtrack (2000) ("Nothing Really Blue")
- Napoleon Dynamite Official Soundtrack (2005) ("Music For A Found Harmonium")
- It's All Gone Pete Tong Official soundtrack (2005) ("Music For A Found Harmonium")
- Hewlett Packard - Advert (2006) ("Perpetuum Mobile")
- 3 lbs - "Lost For Words" (2006) ("Perpetuum Mobile")
- Year of the Dog (2007) ("Music for a Found Harmonium")
- All the Little Animals Music written by Simon Jeffes, performed and recorded by PCO members Geoffrey Richardson, Jennifer Maidman and Steve Fletcher
- Capitalism: A Love Story (2009) ("Music For A Found Harmonium")
- Mary and Max (2009) ("Perpetuum Mobile")
- Origin Energy 'Sustainability Drive' advert ("Perpetuum Mobile")
See also
- 'Still Life' at the Penguin Cafe, a ballet composed by Simon Jeffes and choreographed by David Bintley
Cover art
