TG Collective

The album is lovely stuff, full of southern European warmth, and the band’s performances are renowned for their uplifting nature … jazz mixed in with a little flamenco and all served up with a thoroughly contemporary twist on the gypsy flavour … There are strong contributions from the whole band … the rhythm team hunkered down and tightly groovy, but the heart of TG remains the exceptional two-as-one guitar pair of Fekete and Slater.

- Peter Bacon - Properganda Magazine / The Jazz Breakfast

The album is lovely stuff, full of southern European warmth, and the band’s performances are renowned for their uplifting nature … jazz mixed in with a little flamenco and all served up with a thoroughly contemporary twist on the gypsy flavour … There are strong contributions from the whole band … the rhythm team hunkered down and tightly groovy, but the heart of TG remains the exceptional two-as-one guitar pair of Fekete and Slater.

- Peter Bacon - Properganda Magazine / The Jazz Breakfast

…dazzling mix of flamenco, jazz, classical and swing, as heard on their new album ‘Release the Penguins’. - Time Out Magazine

…dazzling mix of flamenco, jazz, classical and swing, as heard on their new album ‘Release the Penguins’. - Time Out Magazine

Live Review – Manchester Jazz Festival, July 2012

Then on Tuesday (17th July) what for me was a new musical delight, saw TG Collective in the Festival Pavilion give an outstanding performance. They are an accomplished group from the Midlands specialising in gypsy, flamenco, bolero-type music and they riveted a packed audience till the last encore. Two guitars (Jamie Fekete, Sam Slater) talking to one another, playing against one another, in the hypnotic rhythms of flamenco, improvisations around dance and jazz fusions, left the centre of Manchester spellbound. A final flourish from the violinist (Louis Robinson) during an encore that one did not want to end was a superb conclusion to a very impressive musical display of talent with flute (Holly Jones), double bass and trumpet (Percy Pursglove) and percussion (listed as Tom Chapman, Joelle Barker). I ‘popped in’ for thirty minutes, and stayed for an eternity that passed all too fleetingly, spellbound by the music.

- Charlotte Starkey - Manchester Salon

Live Review – Manchester Jazz Festival, July 2012

Then on Tuesday (17th July) what for me was a new musical delight, saw TG Collective in the Festival Pavilion give an outstanding performance. They are an accomplished group from the Midlands specialising in gypsy, flamenco, bolero-type music and they riveted a packed audience till the last encore. Two guitars (Jamie Fekete, Sam Slater) talking to one another, playing against one another, in the hypnotic rhythms of flamenco, improvisations around dance and jazz fusions, left the centre of Manchester spellbound. A final flourish from the violinist (Louis Robinson) during an encore that one did not want to end was a superb conclusion to a very impressive musical display of talent with flute (Holly Jones), double bass and trumpet (Percy Pursglove) and percussion (listed as Tom Chapman, Joelle Barker). I ‘popped in’ for thirty minutes, and stayed for an eternity that passed all too fleetingly, spellbound by the music.

- Charlotte Starkey - Manchester Salon

One would need a Large Hadron Collider to discover the single unknown something that makes TG Collective’s RELEASE THE PENGUINS the infectious little treasure that it is.

There is so much at play here – from the madcap title track that is as much Raymond Scott as it is Django Reinhardt to the flirtatious flamenco of Silhouette; from the intricate mystery of Sutta and Homage to the dramatic, somewhat filmic complexity of The Long Arm. The mix of gypsy-style guitar, flute, percussion, bass and the occasional trumpet creates, at once, a full yet attractively sparse sound that pulls you toward the music rather than bringing it to you.

Much more than your average gypsy jazz album, this record is a thoughtful tour of that surprisingly varied terrain. Often intoxicating in its musical curiosity and so exquisitely produced, RELEASE THE PENGUINS exemplifies the diversity and ambition that exists in contemporary British jazz.

- Liam Wilkinson - Northern Sky Music Magazine

One would need a Large Hadron Collider to discover the single unknown something that makes TG Collective’s RELEASE THE PENGUINS the infectious little treasure that it is.

There is so much at play here – from the madcap title track that is as much Raymond Scott as it is Django Reinhardt to the flirtatious flamenco of Silhouette; from the intricate mystery of Sutta and Homage to the dramatic, somewhat filmic complexity of The Long Arm. The mix of gypsy-style guitar, flute, percussion, bass and the occasional trumpet creates, at once, a full yet attractively sparse sound that pulls you toward the music rather than bringing it to you.

Much more than your average gypsy jazz album, this record is a thoughtful tour of that surprisingly varied terrain. Often intoxicating in its musical curiosity and so exquisitely produced, RELEASE THE PENGUINS exemplifies the diversity and ambition that exists in contemporary British jazz.

- Liam Wilkinson - Northern Sky Music Magazine

The Big Feastival 2012 Review – September 2012

Food and music-lovers headed to Alex James’ farm last weekend for the second year of Jamie Oliver’s, ‘The Big Feastival’.

On the mainstage, Birmingham-based flamenco, gypsy and jazz-inspired musicians, the TG Collective started with a small crowd, but literally stopped people in their tracks and gained onlookers throughout with their amazing musicianship and intricate solos. [...] - Yahoo!

The Big Feastival 2012 Review – September 2012

Food and music-lovers headed to Alex James’ farm last weekend for the second year of Jamie Oliver’s, ‘The Big Feastival’.

On the mainstage, Birmingham-based flamenco, gypsy and jazz-inspired musicians, the TG Collective started with a small crowd, but literally stopped people in their tracks and gained onlookers throughout with their amazing musicianship and intricate solos. [...] - Yahoo!

- TG Collective serve up a jazzy feast on their debut album

Gypsy jazz, flamenco and modern classical styles dance enticingly from the twin guitars of Jamie Fekete and Sam Slater, who in TG Collective are joined by double bassist and trumpeter Percy Pursglove, flautist Holly Jones, violinist Louis Robinson and percussionists Joelle Barker and Tom Chapman. This debut shows why the band have played live on the BBC, at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Pizza Express Soho and on London’s South Bank to acclaim.

Sparkling playing/arrangements and exquisite soloing are permanent features of the 10 tracks, from the title cut instrumental beginning via the lovely tones of Silhouette, the vigorous Escape From Girona and the final track, The Sheik of Araby. Release The Penguins is unique, adventurous and a true find. - The Musician Magazine

- TG Collective serve up a jazzy feast on their debut album

Gypsy jazz, flamenco and modern classical styles dance enticingly from the twin guitars of Jamie Fekete and Sam Slater, who in TG Collective are joined by double bassist and trumpeter Percy Pursglove, flautist Holly Jones, violinist Louis Robinson and percussionists Joelle Barker and Tom Chapman. This debut shows why the band have played live on the BBC, at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Pizza Express Soho and on London’s South Bank to acclaim.

Sparkling playing/arrangements and exquisite soloing are permanent features of the 10 tracks, from the title cut instrumental beginning via the lovely tones of Silhouette, the vigorous Escape From Girona and the final track, The Sheik of Araby. Release The Penguins is unique, adventurous and a true find. - The Musician Magazine

This follow-up to their 2005 album ‘Who Ate All The Tapas?’ sees the original Trio Gitano expanding into a collective that incorporates flute, fiddle, double bass, trumpet and percussion. Based around the two guitars of Jamie Fekete and Sam Slater (the other original band member, Sophie Johnson, left in 2006 to follow other musical pursuits), the broader textural palette makes for a very tasty gumbo indeed.

A fairly eclectic outfit from the start, TGC’s ever-widening crazy quilt of influences references flamenco in ‘Silhouette’ and ‘Escape from Girona’, jazz in a delightful two-part take on Horace Silver’s ‘Song For My Father’, a two-guitar ‘Homage’ to JS Bach’s magisterial ‘Chaconne in D Minor’, and a nod to Django Reinhardt in the album’s swinging title track and ‘The Sheik of Araby’. The group’s mentor, Bryan Lester, is still very much in the frame, contributing three pieces the pick of which is undoubtedly the unerringly lyrical ‘Sutta’.

- Peter Quinn - Jazzwise Magazine

This follow-up to their 2005 album ‘Who Ate All The Tapas?’ sees the original Trio Gitano expanding into a collective that incorporates flute, fiddle, double bass, trumpet and percussion. Based around the two guitars of Jamie Fekete and Sam Slater (the other original band member, Sophie Johnson, left in 2006 to follow other musical pursuits), the broader textural palette makes for a very tasty gumbo indeed.

A fairly eclectic outfit from the start, TGC’s ever-widening crazy quilt of influences references flamenco in ‘Silhouette’ and ‘Escape from Girona’, jazz in a delightful two-part take on Horace Silver’s ‘Song For My Father’, a two-guitar ‘Homage’ to JS Bach’s magisterial ‘Chaconne in D Minor’, and a nod to Django Reinhardt in the album’s swinging title track and ‘The Sheik of Araby’. The group’s mentor, Bryan Lester, is still very much in the frame, contributing three pieces the pick of which is undoubtedly the unerringly lyrical ‘Sutta’.

- Peter Quinn - Jazzwise Magazine

Release The Penguins is performed with impeccable musicianship. It opens with the title track, reminiscent in atmosphere of Django’s Rhythm Futur, providing a steel-strung Gypsy jazz delight. Then suddenly we are in Spain with the second track, Silhouette. This features nylon-strung guitar played with masterly flamenco and classical guitar technique. The steel/nylon manouche/flamenco duality from the two guitarists, Jamie Fekete and Sam Slater, runs as a thread through the whole album.

There are a couple of stunning flute solos from Holly Jones, particularly on Horace Silver’s Song For My Father, but most of the music is composed, highly arranged, and draws on a multitude of influences. Louis Robinson plays violin and Percy Pursglove adds double bass to complete the core cast. In addition Percy also contributes trumpet, Tom Chapman and Joelle Barker provide cajon where required, and Laura Moody plays cello.

With two exceptions, the music is written by members of the collective, or their associates. The musicianship of the players provides some glorious sounds and textures. There is certainly some beautiful and emotional music on this album … the eclecticism sometimes feels like listening to a soundtrack without the pictures.

This is different and interesting. And did I mention the impeccable musicianship?

- Jon Moore - fRoots Magazine

Release The Penguins is performed with impeccable musicianship. It opens with the title track, reminiscent in atmosphere of Django’s Rhythm Futur, providing a steel-strung Gypsy jazz delight. Then suddenly we are in Spain with the second track, Silhouette. This features nylon-strung guitar played with masterly flamenco and classical guitar technique. The steel/nylon manouche/flamenco duality from the two guitarists, Jamie Fekete and Sam Slater, runs as a thread through the whole album.

There are a couple of stunning flute solos from Holly Jones, particularly on Horace Silver’s Song For My Father, but most of the music is composed, highly arranged, and draws on a multitude of influences. Louis Robinson plays violin and Percy Pursglove adds double bass to complete the core cast. In addition Percy also contributes trumpet, Tom Chapman and Joelle Barker provide cajon where required, and Laura Moody plays cello.

With two exceptions, the music is written by members of the collective, or their associates. The musicianship of the players provides some glorious sounds and textures. There is certainly some beautiful and emotional music on this album … the eclecticism sometimes feels like listening to a soundtrack without the pictures.

This is different and interesting. And did I mention the impeccable musicianship?

- Jon Moore - fRoots Magazine

Flamenco, jazz and gypsy-swing mingle together in the world of the TG Collective, a guitar-led sextet from a British city with a thriving home-grown global music scene – Birmingham. The collective grew out of Trio Gitano, a successful acoustic guitar trio, and Release The Penguins is the first release for the bigger group, which also features violin, trumpet, flute and percussion.

Guitarists Jamie Fekete and Sam Slater are the driving force behind TGC and theirs appears to be a longstanding musical relationship. Not only do they play together with pinpoint precision but they share writing credits on some of the record’s finest tracks: the Django Reinhardt-inspired title-track, flamenco piece ‘Escape From Girona (Part II),’ and the JS Bach tribute ‘Homage’.

Most of TGC’s music is delivered with a fast pace and a light touch. The flute and violin tend to play in unison with the lead guitar but there is space for soloing too. Flautist Holly Jones delivers a couple of scorching improvisations, most notably on a sultry arrangement of jazz pianist Horace Silver’s ‘Song For My Father’. It’s not just individual contributions or tracks that make the album though. With its flamenco-dominated core leavened by the swinging outer numbers, there’s a pleasing overall shape to Release The Penguins. A rewarding listen all round.

- Tim Woodall - Songlines Magazine

Flamenco, jazz and gypsy-swing mingle together in the world of the TG Collective, a guitar-led sextet from a British city with a thriving home-grown global music scene – Birmingham. The collective grew out of Trio Gitano, a successful acoustic guitar trio, and Release The Penguins is the first release for the bigger group, which also features violin, trumpet, flute and percussion.

Guitarists Jamie Fekete and Sam Slater are the driving force behind TGC and theirs appears to be a longstanding musical relationship. Not only do they play together with pinpoint precision but they share writing credits on some of the record’s finest tracks: the Django Reinhardt-inspired title-track, flamenco piece ‘Escape From Girona (Part II),’ and the JS Bach tribute ‘Homage’.

Most of TGC’s music is delivered with a fast pace and a light touch. The flute and violin tend to play in unison with the lead guitar but there is space for soloing too. Flautist Holly Jones delivers a couple of scorching improvisations, most notably on a sultry arrangement of jazz pianist Horace Silver’s ‘Song For My Father’. It’s not just individual contributions or tracks that make the album though. With its flamenco-dominated core leavened by the swinging outer numbers, there’s a pleasing overall shape to Release The Penguins. A rewarding listen all round.

- Tim Woodall - Songlines Magazine

You’ll see that they can let their hair down … from gypsy swing to husling, Chick Corea-ish improv, and serene excursions into the baroque, the playlist always keeps you guessing. And the telepathy is always tuneful.

- Clive Davis - The Sunday Times

You’ll see that they can let their hair down … from gypsy swing to husling, Chick Corea-ish improv, and serene excursions into the baroque, the playlist always keeps you guessing. And the telepathy is always tuneful.

- Clive Davis - The Sunday Times