PERFORMING IN SOULPEPPER PRODUCTION 88KEYS IN TORONTO THROUGH JUNE                                                                                                                             

ALBUM RELEASE SHOW AT JASPER DANDY IN TORONTO ON MAY 26

Toronto, ON – April 24, 2019 – Today, renowned Toronto artist, Thompson Egbo-Egbo, reveals the candid visuals for his single, It’s Not That Serious. The video, directed by Dan Lemoyne, captures the track and body of work from Thompson’s forthcoming album, The Offering, set for release on May 24 via Entertainment One. Hometown fans will be treated to an exclusive release show at Jasper Dandy on Sunday, May 26 at 2:00 pm. Watch It’s Not That Serious here, and purchase tickets for the show here.

In addition, Thompson announces his involvement in Soulpepper Theatre Co.’s production, 88KEYS, created by Tom Allen and Mike Ross. 88 keys, 230 strings, and 7,500 working parts make up every piano. For 300 years, it has been the vehicle through which genius is conveyed, from Beethoven and Chopin to Fats Domino, Ray Charles, and Billy Joel. Mike Ross leads Soulpepper musicians on an exploration of the ‘King of the Instruments’. The production runs from June 1 to June 21, with performances at 1:30PM and 7:30PM, at the theatre in Toronto’s historic Distillery District.  The Offering will be available for sale on CD in the lobby after every performance, where Thompson will be available to sign CDs and meet patrons. Find more info and purchase tickets here.

The Offering follows Thompson’s 2018 album, A New Standard. The record was Thompson’s debut on Entertainment One, and sought to redefine the concept of the jazz standard, and included original takes on Radiohead, Bob Dylan and Laura Mvula tunes. It was recorded in a trio format, with Randall Hall on bass, and Jeff Halischuk on drums, marking a departure from the solo playing for which Thompson had become known. Buy and stream the album here.

For The Offering, Thompson has returned to the trio format. If A New Standard sought to change the conversation, The Offering seeks to create a new dialogue about what we expect from a jazz trio. Whereas A New Standard was recorded and then performed, many of the tracks on The Offering were written on stage, and put to tape after they’d been fleshed out live. This adds a presence and muscular tone to the album. The recording process itself was an attempt to capture the essence of the live experience - the element that has been attracting an ever-growing audience to the trio’s concerts.

With the exception, the Metheny penned, Question and Answer, Thompson, or co-written with the trio.

About Thompson Egbo-Egbo

Hailing from Toronto, Ontario, Thompson Egbo-Egbo is a pianist with a gift for memorable but harmonically complex compositions that have at their core a deep, abiding groove. A rambunctious and free spirit was channeled in a creative direction with piano lessons at an inner-city music school. After graduating from high school, Egbo-Egbo earned a degree in Music from Humber College and studied electronic production and design at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.

After college, Egbo-Egbo found performance work in the clubs and lounges of Toronto. An ever-popular performer, many solo engagements turned in to long-term residencies at venues like The Shangri-La Hotel & Jacob’s Steakhouse.  In 2014, Egbo-Egbo released Short Stories, a collection of original solo piano compositions inspired by his residency performances.

About Entertainment One
Entertainment One Ltd. (LSE:ETO) is a global independent studio that specializes in the development, acquisition, production, financing, distribution and sales of entertainment content. The Company’s diversified expertise spans across film, television and music production and sales, family programming, merchandising and licensing, and digital content. Through its global reach and expansive scale, powered by deep local market knowledge, the Company delivers the best content to the world. 

Entertainment One’s robust network includes film and television studio The Mark Gordon Company; content creation venture Amblin Partners with Steven Spielberg, DreamWorks Studios, Participant Media, and Reliance Entertainment; leading feature film production and global sales company Sierra Pictures; unscripted television production companies Renegade 83, Paperny Entertainment and Force Four Entertainment; world-class music labels Dualtone Music Group and Last Gang; and award-winning digital agency Secret Location. 

The Company’s rights library is exploited across all media formats and includes more than 100,000 hours of film and television content and approximately 40,000 music tracks. www.entertainmentone.com

TOUR DATES:
May 26 – Jasper Dandy – Toronto, ON – 2:00pm to 3:00 pm – Info & Tickets  
June 1-21 – 88KEYS – Soulpepper Theatre Co. - Toronto, ON – Info | Tickets

Thompson Egbo-Egbo on Spotify: spoti.fi/2milLNE 
Purchase/stream A New Standard: smarturl.it/anewstandard

DOWNLOAD – Hi Res Album Artwork | DOWNLOAD – Hi Res Press Photo

www.egbo.ca