Penguin Cafe

Penguin Cafe

Penguin Cafe is a London-based ensemble founded in 2009 by Arthur Jeffes. The group performs music associated with the Penguin Cafe Orchestra, led by Jeffes’ father Simon Jeffes, alongside material drawn from Arthur Jeffes’ own compositions. It begins touring in June 2009 and continues as an active group.

Background and repertoire

The project starts as Music from the Penguin Cafe and later becomes known simply as Penguin Cafe. Its line-up brings together musicians to reinterpret the work of the Penguin Cafe Orchestra while also developing new pieces within the same broad musical world. The ensemble is described as drawing players of a similar age to the original Penguin Cafe Orchestra members when they first begin performing together in the late 1970s.

Recording and membership

Penguin Cafe releases its first studio album, A Matter of Life..., in 2011. Members include Arthur Jeffes, Darren Berry, Clementine Brown, Cass Browne, Tom Chichester-Clark, Neil Codling, Vincent Greene, Oli Langford, Des Murphy, Quinta, Pete Radcliffe, Lucy Shaw, Emma Smith, Andy Waterworth, Rebecca Waterworth and Sarah Wilson.

Instruments and line-ups

Earlier line-ups include Arthur Jeffes on piano and cuatros, Rebecca Waterworth on cello, Andy Waterworth on double bass, Des Murphy and Kath Mann on ukulele, Vince Greene on viola, Neil Coding on piano and ukulele, Tom Chichester-Clark on cuatro and guitar, Cass Browne on percussion and Darren Berry on violin.