cosmo cosmolino

Cosmo Cosmolino, a Melbourne based quintet of luscious strings and romantic piano accordion, creates exquisite music which crosses between tango and gypsy music, song and dynamic chamber pieces via original arrangements of well-known tunes and original compositions which express dynamism, love, tragedy and capricious play.

Featuring Judy Gunson on accordion and vocals

Sue Simpson and Andrea Keeble on violin

Helen Mountfort on 'cello

Dan Witton on contrabass

Click here to listen to an interview recorded by Susan Batten with the whole group earlier this year for the Australian Music Airplay Project

Cosmo Cosmolino had its beginnings five years ago when Hope Csutoros, Helen Mountfort and Judy Gunson began composing and arranging pieces for violin, cello and accordion.

After a couple of gigs they decided they needed a bigger bottom end and so they invited their friend Dan Witton to join them on bass. Violinist Andrea Keeble then joined them to complete the quintet.

They released their first CD Streetsweeper in 2000.

In 2006 Hope Csutoros retired from the group and Sue Simpson began to play with the group. Hope's contribution to the group lives on through her beautiful compositions and recordings with Cosmo.

The ensemble (each with backgrounds involving local and international theatre, dance, film, popular and orchestral performance and recording) have had great success with several sell-out performances at Melbourne Festival’s Famous Spiegeltent (Oct/Nov 2001 & Oct 2002 ), and have been enormously popular at the (Canberra) National Folk Festival, Queenscliff Music Festival, St Kilda Festival, and many others.

They were invited to Adelaide to perform in The Famous Spiegeltent and Fringe performances in March 2002, the Bellingen Global Carnival (NSW), and Troubadour Festival (VIC) in Sept/Oct. of that year.

Cosmo received a great reception at The Spiegeltent for the venue’s first season in Sydney’s Domain in Nov. 2003. The group is always received with great enthusiasm by audiences, and have enjoyed terrific response during regional tours of country Victoria.

In December 2004 they launched Nektár at The Famous Spiegeltent in Melbourne.

Cosmo Cosmolino is also a fine exponent of original local music: Gypsy-inspired, Tangos and Waltzes, slow and sultry, mad and beautiful musical renditions of extraordinary technicality. A musically dazzling and visually enthralling group – the pleasure they derive from playing together is evident to all. Their high-energy (or slow and sensual) music is sure to leave every audience uplifted and inspired.

Biographies

Andrea Keeble (violin):
Andrea studied violin at the Victorian College of the Arts and performs and travels regularly with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, as well as freelance work in opera & chamber music, and lately performs as an “occasional” Stiletto Sister.   She also enjoys her work as a performer & composer for live theatre, and is establishing two new groups combining classical and original works: Bach, Bartok & Beyond and Ad Hoc String Ensemble(with Helen Mountfort) and her own original group Stroll.  She is currently touring internationally with the Skin Quartet.

Suzanne Simpson (violin):
Suzanne is Cosmo Cosmolino’s newest member, joining the group in 2006.  After more than 6 years on the road with Circus Oz, Suzanne has now based herself in Melbourne and is currently enjoying the diversity of being a free-lance musician, as an accomplished performer, composer & recording artist.  After studies at the VCA, she has played in opera & ballet with Orchestra Victoria and performed in many theatre productions.Suzanne has performed & recorded with many musicians including Renee Geyer, Nick Cave & John Butler,  with a highlight being Stevie Wonder.  She has played on soundtracks for films including Elizabeth and the soon to be released Rogue. 

Helen Mountfort (cello):
Helen is a member of the popular Melbourne band My Friend the Chocolate Cake, and performs with the David Chesworth Ensemble.   Helen was also a member of the highly acclaimed band Not Drowning, Waving.  She currently writes music for film, theatre and dance and is in high demand as a recording musician.

Judy Gunson (piano accordion & voice):
Judy works as a performer & composer in many contexts and has toured extensively in Australia & overseas.  She performs with a number of groups including the fabulous Stiletto Sisters and alt country outfit Son of a Gun and has recently been touring the USA and South Korea withChamber Made Opera’s Recital.

Dan Witton (double bass & voice):
Dan is co-founder of the performance company desoxy theatre. He has performed with a number of unique Melbourne-based groups, including Blue Grassy Knoll and the Ennio Morricone Experience as well as Chamber Made Opera’s Phobia,and David Chesworth's Cosmonaut (for Melbourne Festival 2004).

2005 Cosmo Comolino were ARIA Award nomimees
Fine Arts Awards - Best World Music Album
aria site link...