Gazpacho (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Gazpacho


Img_capt =
Img_size =
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Norway
Genre = Art rock Progressive rock New prog
Years_active = 1996 - present
Label = Happy Thoughts Production
Associated_acts = Marillion
URL = http://www.gazpachoworld.com/
Current_members = Jan Henrik Ohme Jon-Arne Vilbo Thomas Andersen Mikael Krømer Robert R Johansen Kristian Torp
Past_members = Roy Funner Geir Digernes

Gazpacho are an Art rock band from Oslo, Norway.

The original core band of Jan-Henrik Ohme (vocals, Jon-Arne Vilbo (guitars) and Thomas Andersen (keyboards, programming, producer) started making music together in 1996 and the band has since expanded with Mikael Krømer (violin, co-producer), Robert Risenberg (drums) and Kristian Torp (bass).

Hard to pigeonhole, Gazpacho's music has been described by one critic as being "classical post ambient nocturnal atmospheric neo-progressive folk world rock" [cite web
title = PBS 106.7 FM
work = Night Review
url = http://www.pbsfm.org.au/Documents.asp?ID=4955&Title=Gazpacho+%96+Night+(Intact+records)
accessdate = 2007-02-27] . The music has been compared to A-ha, Radiohead, Muse, Marillion and Porcupine Tree.

Without the backing of a major label, Gazpacho is one of many bands now utilizing the resources of the Internet to create word of mouth promotional opportunities, with a reliance on their website and its forum, online shopping, MySpace and other 'net initiatives to spread the word. This allows the band to hold down full time jobs, yet still manage to release an album a year with total artistic control over their compositions and distribution.

History

The Early Years (1996-2001)

Childhood friends Jon-Arne Vilbo and Thomas Andersen had played together in a band called Delerium before, which in their own words "whittled away"cite web
title = DPRP Interview
publisher = Dutch Progressive Rock Page
url = http://www.dprp.net/specials/gazpacho/index.html
accessdate = 2008-04-05] . After several years of separation the two friends met again and started making music together again. Andersen had met Jan-Henrik Ohme through his work as radio commercial producer and brought him in to the jam sessions, which lay the foundation for Gazpacho as it exists today.

The band name comes from an attempt to describe their music.

Andersen: "We are a very unlikely mixture of people really, not the average types you'd expect to see in the same band… so we thought Gazpacho, which really is the bastard of soups (meshed up vegetables served cold), was the perfect name for our group(...)With Gazpacho you get a surprise, something unexpected, something out of the norm, a 'positive' contradiction. We feel this describes our band very well.".

Roy Funner played bass on the finished recordings of the band, though he wasn't part of the writing process. For the drum tracks a computer was used. For two years the band worked on a concept album "Random Access Memory"; a piece of work which they discarded altogether when they felt they had not yet reached the level of musical maturity for such an ambitious project.

Make-a-star and Bravo (2002-2003)

All three members of Gazpacho were involved with the Scandinavian branch of Marillion's The Web fanclub [cite web
title = The Web Scandinavia
url = http://www.web-scandinavia.com/
accessdate = 2008-04-05] . This led to Ohme being invited to sing the Marillion track "Afraid Of Sunlight" at the Swap The Band show of the first Marillion Convention Weekend [cite web
title = Review of Marillion Convention 2002
publisher = Dutch Progressive Rock Page
url = http://www.dprp.net/concrev/mar14.htm
accessdate = 2008-04-05] [cite web
title = Marillion Convention Website
url = http://www.marillionweekend.com
accessdate = 2008-04-05] . At this convention the band handed out free four-track promos called "Get It While It's Cold" [cite web
title = Review of Get It While It's Cold EP
publisher = Dutch Progressive Rock Page
url = http://www.dprp.net/reviews/0215.htm#gazpacho
accessdate = 2008-04-05] to anyone interested. These promos also found their way to several internet magazines which gave the band almost unanimous acclaim cite web
title = Review of Get It While It's Cold EP
publisher = Splendid Ezine
url = http://www.splendidezine.com/review.html?reviewid=3236603957874168
accessdate = 2008-04-05] [cite web
title = Review of Get It While It's Cold EP
publisher = Demo Universe
url = http://www.demouniverse.com/review.php?did=2259
accessdate = 2008-04-05] [cite web
title = Review of Get It While It's Cold EP
publisher = Progressive Ears
url = http://www.progressiveears.com/asp/reviews.asp?albumID=1803&bhcp=1
accessdate = 2008-04-05] with one reviewer calling the music "expertly-crafted and truly inventive".

In May 2002 the band entered a song contest on Make-A-Star [cite web
title = Make A Star Website
url = http://www.makeastar.com/asps/index.asp
accessdate = 2008-04-05] with the song "Sea Of Tranquility" and won. Their second entry, "Ghost" made it to second position, but was enough to gain them the opportunity to release an album through MP3.com [cite web
title = MP3.com Website
url = http://www.mp3.com/artist/gazpacho/summary/
accessdate = 2008-04-05] . "Get It While It's Cold (37°C))" contained three tracks of the promo EP and three new tracks. One of these new tracks, "Nemo" saw the band winning the Make-A-Star contest for a second time.The release of the EP continued to garner the band international acclaim [cite web
title = Review of Get It While It's Cold (37°C)
publisher = Proggnosis
url = http://www.silverdb.com/MUSIC_DBCDInfo.asp?txtCDID=4347
accessdate = 2008-04-05] [cite web
title = Review of Get It While It's Cold (37°C)
publisher = Progressive Word
url = http://www.progressiveworld.net/gazpacho.html
accessdate = 2008-04-05] [cite web
title = Review of Get It While It's Cold (37°C)
publisher = AOR Website
url = http://digilander.libero.it/aorwebsite/sept02.htm
accessdate = 2008-04-05]

In 2003 the band released their first proper album "Bravo", which contained five of the six tracks off the MP3.com album, and six new compositions. Utilizing the possibilities of the Internet the band had teamed up with the American singer/songwriter fellow Make-A-Star contestee Esther Valentine and New Zealand producer Peter Kearns. Valentine sang a duet with Ohme on the song "Novgorod" (which she also co-wrote) and Kearns produced two of the tracks off "Bravo". "Bravo" gained the band more international acclaim [cite web
title = Review of Bravo
publisher = Progwereld
url = http://www.progwereld.org/cd-recensies/gazpacho2.htm
accessdate = 2008-04-05] [cite web
title = Review of Bravo
publisher = Groove
url = http://www.groove.no/html/review/45436769.html
accessdate = 2008-04-05] [cite web
title = Review of Bravo
publisher = Jærbladet
url = http://www.gazpachoworld.com/gfx/scans/jaerbladet_09052003.gif
accessdate = 2008-04-05] , with Dutch leading music magazine Oor stating "their debut album is a rare beauty"

The band was invited to perform at the second Marillion Convention Weekend [cite web
title = Review of 2nd Marillion Convention
publisher = Jærbladet
url = http://www.dprp.net/concrev/mar16.htm
accessdate = 2008-04-05] . For their live band the band was further expanded with drummer Geir Digernes (who had also played drums on some of the tracks on "Bravo") and for the performance of the title track they were joined by Mikael Krømer (violin) and Kristian Skedsmo (flute)

upporting Marillion (2004-2005)

The performance at the Convention Weekend led to a support slot on Marillion's 31-date European "Marbles" tour around 11 countries, further raising the profile of the band. For this tour Robert Johansen joined the band as the new drummer, and Mikael Krømer and Kristian Skedsmo also joined the live line-up.

Prior to the tour the band released their second full-length album, "When Earth Lets Go", giving them enough material for their live repertoire. On "When Earth Lets Go" the band collaborated with producer Steve Lyon (Paul McCartney, Depeche Mode, The Cure) who had agreed to produce one track "Substitute For Murder" to see if he could potentially interest any labels. Despite Lyon's involvement, the increased awareness after the Marillion, and more rave reviews on their album [cite web
title = Review of When Earth Lets Go
publisher = CD Baby / Backstage Magazine
url = http://cdbaby.com/cd/gazpacho2
accessdate = 2008-04-05] [cite web
title = Review of When Earth Lets Go
publisher = Music Street Journal
url = http://www.musicstreetjournal.com/gazpacho.htm
accessdate = 2008-04-05] [cite web
title = Review of When Earth Lets Go
publisher = Axiom Of Choice
url = http://people.cs.uu.nl/jur/reviews/whenearthletsgo.html
accessdate = 2008-04-05] the band was not able to secure a record deal.

In the end their friends of Marillion came to the rescue offering Gazpacho the chance to release their next album on the band's own Racket Records labelcite web
title = Racket Records Gazpacho page
publisher = Marillion.com
url = http://www.marillion.com/racket/albums/gazpacho.htm
accessdate = 2008-04-05] . Racket released the band's third album "Firebird" and re-released " Bravo" and "When Earth Lets Go". The support of Marillion also led to the collaboration with guitarist Steve Rothery who plays a solo on the track "Do You Know What You Are Saying". Other guest appearances on the album came in the form of fans who had been encouraged to send in sound samples which the band would use. Among the unusual instruments featured on the album are maracas, a comb and a Leopard II battle tank [cite web
title = Review of Firebird
publisher = Dutch Progressive Rock Page
url = http://www.marillion.com/racket/albums/gazpacho.htm
accessdate = 2008-04-05] .

Roy Funner had left the band after the 2004 tour to focus more on his family and he was replaced by Kristian Torp. With the new line-up the band supported Marillion once more on 4 gigs during the Not Quite Christmas Tour. After this tour Kristian Skedsmo announced he no longer wanted to go on prolongued tours away from home and the live line-up was reduced to a six-piece band.

Night and Beyond (2006-2008)

After a year of silence "Night" was released in February 2007. For this occasion the band was once more invited to appear at the Marillion's Convention Weekend, this time in The Netherlands [cite web
title = Review of 4th Marillion Convention
publisher = Dutch Progressive Rock Page
url = http://www.dprp.net/concrev/2007marillionweekend.php
accessdate = 2008-04-05] The band also played their first international headlining gig at the Boerderij in Zoetermeer, The Netherlands on February 1, 2007 [cite web
title = Review of Gazpacho in Zoetermeer
publisher = Dutch Progressive Rock Page
url = http://www.dprp.net/concrev/2007gazpacho.php
accessdate = 2008-04-05] [cite web
title = Review of Gazpacho in Zoetermeer
publisher = Progwereld
url = http://www.progwereld.org/concert-recensies/gazpacholive.htm
accessdate = 2008-04-05] .

"Night" shows a departure of the short song format of the previous albums, but instead consists of one long 50-minute conceptual piece, divided into five parts. In the words of the band it is a

" musical description of a dream or a stream of consciousness. It explores the question of where dreams end and reality begins and the mind as the tool that has to decide what to believe. The character goes through various memories real and imagined and sees the world from the angles of different people. He travels through time and visits places across the world including old New Orleans and Ancient woods with Pagan rituals being performed. Night is about life and the various ways of interpreting existence. Pretentious? Oh yes but delicious as well... very delicious".

Mikael Krømer, who had played violin on all previous albums and live shows, was welcomed as a full-time band-member on "Night", also earning a co-producer credit. "Night" also saw the return of Kristian "The Duke" Skedsmo, playing six different instruments on the album. Skedsmo rejoined the band for a one-off live appearance in Oslo on January 19th, 2008.

The album was almost instantly well-received in prog-circles, topping the Just For Kicks Music sales chart for two weeks after its release [cite web
title = Just For Kicks Website
url = http://www.justforkicks.de/default.asp?sid=61702M82N169N247N65&uid=0&lid=2
accessdate = 2008-04-05] [cite web
title = News of week 08, 2007
publisher = Dutch Progressive Rock Page
url = http://www.dprp.net/news/index.php?i=2007_08
accessdate = 2008-04-07] . The (prog related) international press was almost unanimously positive, calling the album "very, very grand art" [cite web
title = Night Review
publisher = Rock Hard
url = http://gazpachoworld.com/gfx/scans/Gazpacho%20Night%20-%20rock%20hard%202007.pdf
accessdate = 2008-04-05] , "nothing short of a masterpiece" [cite web
title = Night Review
publisher = Dutch Progressive Rock Page
url = http://www.dprp.net/reviews/200706.php
accessdate = 2008-04-05] and "an incredible album" [cite web
title = Night Review
publisher = Forces Parallels
url = http://fp.nightfall.fr/index_1399_gazpacho-night-2007.html
accessdate = 2008-04-05] . The album charted in the reader's top 20 at Progwereld for more than a year [cite web
title = Wereldse Tien
publisher = Progwereld
url = http://www.progwereld.org/werelds/wereldse_tien.htm
accessdate = 2008-04-05] .

"Night" also did very well in several readers' polls at the end of 2007. The album was voted 9th best album of 2007 by listeners of Polish radio station MLWZ [cite web
title = MLWZ Website
url = http://www.mlwz.pl/
accessdate = 2008-04-05] and 8th best album in the Dutch Progressive Rock Page Poll [cite web
title = DPRPoll 2007 Results
publisher = Dutch Progressive Rock Page
url = http://www.dprp.net/dprpoll/2007/index.php
accessdate = 2008-04-05] . The album is also in the top 10 of 2007 at Progarchives [cite web
title = Top 2007 Albums
publisher = Progarchives
url = http://www.progarchives.com/top-prog-albums.asp?syears=2007
accessdate = 2008-04-05] .

The band is currently working on a follow-up for "Night" which is tentatively titled "Frankenstein".

Lineup

Current Lineup:
*Jan-Henrik Ohme (aka "O") - vocals, Founding member (1996)
*Jon-Arne Vilbo - guitars, programming, Founding member (1996)
*Thomas Andersen - keyboards, programming, producer, Founding member (1996)
*Mikael Krømer - violin, additional guitar, programming, co-producer (joined 2001)
*Robert R Johansen - drums, percussion (joined 2004)
*Kristian Torp (aka "Fido") - bass guitar (joined 2005)

Guest Members:
*Kristian Skedsmo (aka "The Duke") - flutes, whistles, accordion, didgeridoo, guitar, banjo, mandolin (2002-2005, 2007)

Former Members:
*Roy Funner - bass guitar (2000-2004)
*Geir Digernes - drums (2003)

Collaborations:
*Peter Kearns - producer, strings, vocals (2003)
*Esther Valentine - vocals (2003)
*Steve Lyon - producer (2004)
*Steve Rothery - guitar (2007)

Discography

Albums

* "Get It While It's Cold (37°C)" (2002)
* "Bravo" (2003)
* "When Earth Lets Go" (2004)
* "Firebird" (2005)
* "Night" (2007)
* "Frankenstein" (working title) (2008)

Appearances

* "Makeastar.com Compilation Vol. 2" (2002) ("Sea Of Tranquility")
* Marillion - "Wish You Were Here DVD" (2005) ("Sea Of Tranquility", "Ghost" and "Afraid Of Sunlight")

References

External links

* [http://www.gazpachoworld.com/ Official site]
* [http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=14313 Reviews]
* [http://www.dprp.net/reviews/g.html Reviews]