10 Years Gondwana Records at Säälchen / Saturday, 03.11.2018

All the best crews are celebrating their 10th anniversary this year, and Gondwana Records is no exception. We are delighted to present the labels special birthday show at Säälchen in Berlin this November.

Founded by trumpeter & DJ Matthew Halsall, Gondwana Records is an independent record label based in Manchester, England. Gondwana Records was one of the instigators of the ‘spiritual jazz’ revival releasing albums by saxophonist Nat Birchall, Matthew Halsall’s Gondwana Orchestra and cosmic jazz vocalist Dwight Trible. Gondwana has also developed the careers of some of the most exciting new bands in contemporary music including folk-minimalists Mammal Hands and acoustic-electronica trio GoGo Penguin. More recently they have released albums by the legendary Portico Quartet and the Leeds electro-soul band Noya Rao. While future releases feature former Cinematic Orchestra bassist Phil France, the powerful STUFF. And two very different singer-songwriters neo-soul poet Allysha Joy from Melbourne Australia and folk-tinged songstress Caoilfhionn Rose.

Captivating, ethereal and majestic, Mammal Hands (saxophonist Jordan Smart, pianist Nick Smart and drummer and percussionist Jesse Barrett) has carved out a refreshingly original sound from a disparate array of influences: drawing on spiritual jazz, north Indian, folk and classical music to create something inimitably their own. All three members contribute equally to the writing process: one that favours the creation of a powerful group dynamic over individual solos. Their records are entrancing and beautiful affairs, while their hypnotic live shows have seen them hailed as one of the most exciting bands in Europe as they push their unique line-up to the outer limits of its possibilities.

Portico Quartet was founded in 2005 and quickly made its first mark by busking on London’s Southbank. Their debut album “Knee-deep in the North Sea” was already nominated for the renowned Mercury Prize in 2008, followed by two more albums on Peter Gabriel’s Real World Records. A special percussion instrument called “hang”, whose tonal features are reminiscent of Caribbean steel drums, marimbaphone and partly a percussively played piano, takes a special role – the hybrid position between percussion and melody instrument opens unexpected space of creativity for both the rhythm instruments as well as for the saxophonist Jack Wyllie.

Manchester based DJ, bandleader and trumpeter, one of the UK’s brightest talents. His albums have won him a legion of fans across the world and acclaim from the likes of Gilles Peterson, Jamie Cullum, Mr Scruff, Radio 3’s Late Junction, MOJO, BBC Music Magazine and BBC 6 Music. ‘On The Go’ was winner of best jazz LP at Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide Awards 2011.