Martin Philip - Guitar & Voice
Paul Gilbody - Double Bass, BVs
Hugh Martin - Drums
Influences
We describe our music as Groove, drawing influences from jazz, hip-hop, latin, reggae, funk, rock and afro-beat but with a style that is simply Gecko 3.
To name a few artists we think have influenced our sound (in no particular order):
G-Love and Special Sauce, Jurassic 5, The Police, Greyboy, Cinematic Orchestra, James Brown (and the JB’s), Snowboy and the Latin Section, Ozomatli, Medeski Martin and Wood, Bob Marley, Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, Pucho and his Latin Soul Brothers, The Fun Loving’ Criminals, loads of Blue Note label artists (e.g. Grant Green, Stanley Turrentine, Kenny Burrell etc...), Skalpel, Sting, (Omar Hakim), Acoustic Ladyland / Polar Bear, (Seb Rochford), Tribe Called Quest, Public Enemy, De La Soul, DJ Format, George Benson, Wes Montgomery
Sounds Like
So far we've been told...
Fun Lovin' Criminals, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Arrested Development, G. Love and Special Sauce, The Police, Lenny Kravitz, Jamiroquai, Jack Johnson, The Specials, Hue and Cry, Sting
What do you think? : )
The Edinburgh-based groove trio gecko 3 were formed in the Spring of 2000 by Marty Philip (vocals/guitar), Paul Gilbody (double bass) and Hugh Martin (drums). After several years of collaboration in the Edinburgh music scene they set out as a three-piece to write fresh grooves based on a new mix of jazz, hip-hop, latin, funk and reggae.
Since releasing their debut EP ‘A Walk Across the Ceiling’ in 2002, gecko 3 have performed in the US and mainland Europe, in addition to regular UK gigs in venues from London to Skye. Highlights include the legendary Ronnie Scott’s in Soho (with Brit Award Winner KT Tunstall as a guest vocalist) and London’s Kashmir Klub (as KT’s backing band – Marty and Paul sang backing vocals on KT’s Mercury nominated album ‘Eye to the Telescope’), headlining the multi-media Fiasco.tv event, headlining the Music Marquee and the Main Stage at the Edinburgh Festival’s Fringe Sunday. They have also performed live televised gigs in Princes Street Gardens and frequent headlines at Acoustic Edinburgh’s Festival Programme since 2003.
The second EP ‘Mentum’ was released in 2005 to critical acclaim and an extensive presence on podcast playlists. To promote the release of their third EP ‘Momentum’ in 2007, the band undertook a European tour including dates in Amsterdam, Paris, the South of France and the ‘Ca Jazz a Huy’ Festival in Belgium, culminating in an appearance on the M1 stage at the Redbourn Festival, alongside Sandy Thom and the Ordinary Boys. In the last eighteen months gecko 3 have also played the Skye Festival and the Leith Festival in addition to support slots for Roy Ayers, the Quantic Soul Orchestra and Spanky Wilson, Nizlopi, Cibele, and Finland’s Five Corners Quintet. Other dates include London’s 12Bar, the Red Rooms and Mr Lynch in Newcastle, Inverness’ Ironworks (as support for the Cuban Brothers), Edinburgh’s ‘Departure Lounge’, ‘Motherfunk’ and Parisian venues L’Olympic and La Fleche D’Or. This summer saw the band returning to venues in Paris, with additional dates elsewhere in France and as part of the Brussels Jazz Marathon. The 2009 programme will begin in the first minute of the new year onstage at the legendary Departure Lounge Hogmanay party. The release of the first album is planned for June 2009 with upcoming promotional dates across the UK and Europe.
Reviews:
“Gecko 3 sound and feel right for the moment with their quirky lyrics and retro sound” Scot Campus
“unbelievably difficult to describe without feeling like you are not doing them justice… 5/5” edinburghguide.com
“clever – and they know it. But this is still easy listening gold.” Daily Record
Hey guys, we played with you many moons ago at the liquid ship in glasgow. we're thru in edinburgh on friday as part of the Leith Festival if you happen to be in the mood for a bit of country. cheers, g
Hope all you gorgeous people are remembering Frantic Chant, Delta Mainline and White Heath this Saturday 6th June at The Granary in sunny Leith. Doors open 7.30pm, tickets available from www.leithfestival.com or take your chances and pay at the door.
Summer is approaching and cruel winter is banished for another year. To celebrate, Big Hand would like to invite you to an extra special night of cosmic ska craziness...
Get your skanking shoes on and join us at Cabaret Voltaire this Sunday - 24th May (its a bank holiday, so no excuses)...
I recently visited, and performed for the troops in Iraq! If you click on the picture of me and the troops, below, you can download an EXCLUSIVE track for FREE from my album ‘Live From Iraq.’ Support the troops!
An amazing supporting lineup, full Bombskare set then DJs till 3am. And the album will be onsale, of course... Tickets now available from Ripping Records (Edinburgh) and Tickets Scotland (Edinburgh/Glasgow). £7 in advance.
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