Penguin Cafe

The Penguin Cafe Orchestra (PCO) was founded by British composer Simon Jeffes (1949 - 1997). Jeffes, born in Sussex, England and raised in Canada and around Europe, began playing the guitar at the age of 13. He studied classical guitar, piano, and music theory at Chiswick Polytechnic before dropping out.

While living in Japan in 1972, Jeffes developed an interest in ethnic music, particularly African styles. Inspired by this fusion of sounds, he launched the PCO as a platform for his eclectic compositions. The concept of "Penguin Cafe" came to him in a dream during a bout of food poisoning in the south of France that summer. Describing their music as "modern semi-acoustic chamber music," the PCO's unique style blends traditional Western sounds with diverse influences.

Contact Information:
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
2 Hippodrome Place
London W11 4NG
UK
Tel: +44 20 7792 3493
Fax: +44 7792 7855