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ahead of shows from iconic UK jazz groups GOGO PENGUIN and MAMMAL HANDS at the mojo, TINA EDWARDS explores the legacy of both of the group’s first label, GONDWANA RECORDS.
in 2006, two MANCHESTER (UK) based brothers founded what would become one of the most impactful modern day labels for alternative, jazz-centered music. those brothers were graphic designer DANIEL HALSALL and the more widely known MATTHEW HALSALL; a trumpeter, producer and composer who, through his own musical output and ear for talent, has helped to bring MANCHESTER’s jazz scene to international audiences.
as they always have done, GONDWANA today are supporting early career artists—i.e pianist-composer HANAKIV, saxophonist-composer JASMINE MYRA and composer-singer AMBRE CIEL—whilst nurturing long-time musical bonds with the likes of PORTICO QUARTET, SUNDA ARC and saxophonist-flautist-composer CHIP WICKHAM. however, think of GONDWANA and two of the first acts to spring to mind are likely to be two formidable groups: GOGO PENGUIN and MAMMAL HANDS.
A BREAKTHROUGH BAND
a visit to the bandcamp page of GOGO PENGUIN’s debut release ‚fanfares‘ (2012), reads like tea leaves. descriptors such as „another of MANCHESTER’s well kept musical secrets“ and „hotly tipped as the rising stars of the UK jazz scene“ would prove to be true. by the time that GOGO PENGUIN released ‚v2.0‘ in 2014, with fan-favourites like ‚garden dog barbeque‘ and ‚kamaloka‘, the trio were truly considered as a breakthrough band. nominated for a prestigious MERCURY PRIZE – which by the way, no ‚jazz‘ band had ever won until EZRA COLLECTIVE claimed the prize in 2023 with ‚where i’m meant to be‘ – GOGO PENGUIN had truly began to receive the recognition they deserved for their percussive, expansive take on jazz. they would later go on to sign with the prestigious BLUE NOTE RECORDS after promoters JAZZ RE:FRESHED and blog/radio show JAZZ STANDARD (later known as EZH), presented the band at SXSW in austin, 2017. despite GOGO PENGUIN’s global success with the prestigious major, GONDWANA is still considered – by many long-term fans – to be a kind of spiritual home for the band.
calling GONDWANA home for most of their career – until their recent move to german label ACT – are NORWICH group MAMMAL HANDS. the trio released seven albums on GONDWANA between 2014 and 2023, with the label launching their journey from unknown artists to a globally-revered group. whilst they may be at ACT today, their new album ‚circadia‘ still maintains a connection of sorts to the GONDWANA legacy; former GOGO PENGUIN drummer ROB TURNER, who was on their breakthrough ‚v2.0‘ record, replaces longtime JESSE BARRATT. with his arrival, the band’s signature cinematic-electronic take on european jazz enters darker territory.
whilst GOGO PENGUIN and MAMMAL HANDS aren’t currently releasing music on GONDWANA, there’s no debate that MATTHEW HALSALL and his nourishing label are responsible for first presenting us their remarkable music.
TINA EDWARDS
TINA EDWARDS is a london based broadcaster, dj and music journalist. she’s the co-founder of queer jazz and re:sonate, and hosts jazz-ish jazz club for bandcamp. she also shares music recommendations with a community of 170k music lovers on instagram.
