Gojogo is an unusual quartet that combines the Western sounds of classical and jazz with the rhythmic traditions of India. Founded in 2003, they are dedicated to creating innovative music that is accessible and captivating. Gojogo performs original music composed collaboratively by the four performers, each drawing upon a different musical tradition and training. Compositions feature improvisation over structured forms, creating opportunities for spontaneity and a medium to present each unique instrument. The result is a sound that defies the borders of any specific genre.
Thanks to their genre-defying musical style, Gojogo has presented their work in a wide variety of venues and enjoy a rich history of collaboration with artists of many disciplines. Gojogo received grants from American Composers Forum and San Francisco Friends of Chamber Music in 2009 to perform original scores to Russian animated short films. In 2010, the ensemble joined forces with choreographer Kara Davis to create Symbiosis, a collaborative performance at Dance Mission Theater in San Francisco, funded in part by American Composer’s Forum. Also in 2010, the San Francisco arts organization Intersection for the Arts presented Gojogo on their Jazz at the Intersection concert series at the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park. Gojogo has performed in concert series and festivals throughout the Bay Area including the 2011 Switchboard Music Festival at the Brava Theater in San Francisco.
Gojogo has produced two recordings. Their first album, All is Fair, released in November 2006 on Galaxia Records, received international recognition. The second, 28,000 Days, released on the Porto Franco Record label in 2011, received a four-star review from Down Beat magazine, among many other accolades. The album commemorates a decade of musical growth and chronicles tracks that have been featured in music, film and dance performances throughout the Bay Area and beyond.
Gojogo is a fiscally-sponsored affiliate of the San Francisco Friends of Chamber Music, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the service of chamber music in California.
Personnel:
Sarah Jo Zaharako, violin
Roger Riedlbauer, electric guitar
Eric Perney, bass
Elias Reitz, Indian percussion and electronics