![]() |
the original songs and stories of five women inspired by the many voices and sounds of the world driving percussion rich warm harmonies earthy vocal percussion handclaps and rainsticks breaths and flutes gentle and joyful in spirit Sue Johnson - voice, percussion, rainstick Nicola Eveleigh - voice, flute, bass flute, percussion Jocqueline Gawler - voice, percussion, rainstick Gabrielle MacGregor - voice, djembe, percussion BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF COCO'S LUNCH Approach: Contemporary/ Vocal/ Improvisation Level: All |
|
CoCo's Lunch have built an impressive reputation as one of Australia's most outstanding and innovative A cappella groups. Their music is unique, weaving earthy songs with driving percussion, drawing on the sounds of the world in a distinctly Australian way. For the past five years they have performed throughout Australia at leading festivals and venues along with performances at over 100 schools throughout Victoria with the 'Musica Viva in schools' program, inspiring children to sing and create their own music through improvisation. In 1998 they were artists in residence at Urunga Primary School and Wangaratta Special School. This group of five outstanding singers perform heartfelt original works with on irrepressible sense of joy. Coco's Lunch features Nicola Eveleigh, Jocqueline Fowler, Sue Johnson, Gabrielle MacGregor and Lisa Young. They have released two CD's, "Raise the Tender Heart' (1996) which was nominated for an Aria Award for best contemporary album and 'Wally Wombat Shuffle for children. Their third CD "Invisible Rhythm" is due for release in 1999. In 1997 they collaborated with Ghanian musician Nhi Tettey Tetteh performing concerts featuring traditional songs and percussion. In 1995 they recorded the soundtrack for the documentary "Conversations With Women Writers" screened on SBS and the ABC. |
|
CD Review by Andrea Blansjaar, VOSA Committee Member 2000
Coco's Lunch is a Melbourne based vocal group featuring Lisa Young, Jacqueline Gawler, Sue Johnson, Nicola Eveleigh and Gabrielle MacGregor. They regularly appear in live performance around Melbourne and can be booked through Musica Viva to perform at your school.
Wally Wombat Shuffle is a collection of 'songs for children and the young at heart'. The set opens with the title track written by Lisa Young. Subsequent tracks include delightful reworkings of traditional nursery rhymes. Babatunde Olantunji's 'Jingo' features some very excited primary school children in call/response interplay with Coco's Lunch. Other tracks feature Latin American and African rhythms, non-melodic percussion playing, rapping, vocal percussion, and improvisation. 'Goodnight', a lullaby in the form of an improvised soundscape, concludes the set.
Although this high quality CD does not provide specific teaching activities, it is an outstanding resource for exploring vocal sounds, textures and improvisation. Various tracks could also be used for creative and rhythmic movement, drama activities and relaxation. Lyrics are provided in the colourful and well-presented CD booklet. Aside from its teaching potential, this is an original and lively addition to any CD collection. Highly recommended!
CD Review from Art Streams Jan/Feb 1999
CoCo's Lunch are well known for their innovative A Cappella performances and recordings which are ostensibly though not exclusively aimed at an adult audience.
On this new CD they don't change direction so much as swerve toward a younger audience. As they perform regularly for school children it's not strange territory for them. The set opens with the title track written by Lisa Young. It then moves into such delights as Baa Baa Black Sheep and This Little Piggy which have been reworked by Sue Johnson to become standard CoCo's fare. A different sort of energy is generated in the lively CoCo's Samba and Babatunde Olantunji's Jingo which the children from St John's Primary School, East Melbournc turn into a classic track. There arc four familiar CoCo's tracks on the album along with other new material that will no doubt stay in the repertoire. Among the new material is Sue Johnson's Dizzy Spin which indicates that the current line up of Lisa Young, Jacqueline Gawler, Sue Johnson, Nicola Eveleigh and Gabrielle MacGregor is as good as it gets. Like Hooray For Mister Whiskers this CD has the good sense to finish with a lullaby.
There was passion fervour and feeling" - Jessica Nicholas, Herald/Sun
"The current line up of Lisa Young, Jocqueline Fowler, Sue Johnson, Nicola Eveleigh and Gabrielle MacGregor is as good as it gets!" - Art Streams Magazine.
CoCo's Lunch explore the human voice with humour ond also seriousness, CoCo's Lunch is simply a feast" - John Carver - 'In Search of a Perfect Groove' 3PBS