Simon’s Dream was the original inspiration for the Penguin Café Orchestra (PCO), a band led by English guitarist and composer Simon Jeffes. The group performed and recorded for 24 years until Jeffes died of an inoperable brain tumour in 1997. Since then several original members of the band have continued to play the music under the banner of ‘The Orchestra That Fell To Earth’ in Europe, and ‘Simon’s Dream’ in the United States.

Jennifer Maidman is a singer, writer, and musician born in England. Her solo album, “Dreamland,” features her life partner, renowned trombonist Annie Whitehead, ECM artist David Torn and Woodstock-based drummer Jerry Marotta.

Jennifer was a key member of the original Penguin Café Orchestra, joining in 1984 and touring and recording with the band until the untimely death of Simon Jeffes. Since then, with partner and fellow Penguin Annie Whitehead, she has led two ensembles which continue to perform the Penguin’s repertoire.

Jennifer has played and recorded with a vast range of artists including Boy George, Joan Armatrading, Bonnie Raitt, Gerry Rafferty, David Sylvian, Van Morrison, Shakespears Sister, Paul Brady, Chris De Burgh and Mark Knopfler.

Annie Whitehead was born in Oldham, Lancashire, the heart of brass band country. She learned trombone at school and by the age of 14 was already busy playing with brass bands, local dance groups and the Manchester Youth Jazz Orchestra. At 16, she started her professional career with Ivy Benson All Girl Orchestra. Since then she has brought her distinctive sound to a wide range of projects, exploring many different musical styles.

Jazz-wise, she was a member of Chris McGregor’s Brotherhood of Breath, and was also in various groups run by John Stevens playing alongside Courtney Pine, Evan Parker and Bobby Bradford. Annie has also toured and recorded with the Paul Dunmall Octet (featuring Keith Tippett and Tony Levin), Elton Dean Newsense (alongside legendary trombonists Roswell Rudd and Paul Rutherford). She has also worked with McCoy Tyner, Carla Bley, Abdullah Ibrahim, Louis Moholo and James Blood Ulmer and more recently Gary Crosby’s Jazz Jamaica All Stars with Andy Shepherd and Eddie ‘Tan-Tan’ Thornton.

In 1988, Annie joined the Penguin Cafe Orchestra with which she toured worldwide and appeared on three albums: It was here that she met her partner and frequent musical collaborator Jennifer Maidman. She collaborated with Robert Wyatt to create the band, Soupsongs, which featured Julie Tippetts and Jennifer Maidman on vocals, and also included Didier Malherbe, Harry Beckett and Phil Manzanera. They went on to play at the Royal Festival Hall in London, and throughout Europe, and released a live double album.

Scott Petito is a bassist, composer and producer from the Hudson Valley. Scott has recorded, produced and performed on more than 1,000 recordings. He has worked with a diverse roster of clients, collaborators and artists which include, the Band, James Taylor, Chick Corea, Dave Brubeck and Keith Richards to name only a few.

Scott attended the Berklee College of Music as a jazz composition major, and has lent his skills to countless major artists in multiple genres: Jazz (Jack DeJohnette, John Scofield, Dave Holland); Folk (Pete Seeger, Tom Paxton, James Taylor); Blues (Lucky Peterson, Rory Block); and Rock (The Band, Mercury Rev, The Fugs, Sting, Jon Anderson). He has also worked on music for film and television.

Scott is a long-time member of the legendary poet/punk band, The Fugs. Over the years, he has had many other roles as sideman and band leader, including live performances and recordings with Leslie Ritter, Livingston and James Taylor, Garth Hudson, Levon Helm, Allen Ginsberg and more. He is currently recording a new trio project with drummer Peter Erskine (Weather Report) and vibraphonist Joe Locke.

Jerry Marotta was born in Cleveland, Ohio. At the age of 5 his family moved to Harrison, NY, in

Westchester County. In the 4th grade he started taking clarinet lessons. In the very first report card that year, his music teacher wrote Jerry shows absolutely no interest in the clarinet! He switched over to saxophone with only a little more success. Ironically, it was that same year that Jerry’s brother Rick Marotta brought home the drum kit that would change both their lives for good.

Cut to Jerry graduating from Harrison High in the summer of 1973 (a year early) and taking his final exams on the road with him. Jerry’s brother Rick recorded an album with Arthur, Hurley and Gotlieb for Columbia Records and their single broke the Top 40. They were in need of a drummer, and Jerry got the call.

In 1975 Jerry auditioned for a Woodstock-based group called Orleans and got the job. Soon afterward, he found himself in L.A. recording the “Waking and Dreaming” record, played on his first hit, “Still The One,” and on the road, with Orleans, supporting Jackson Browne.

In the summer of 1977 Orleans took a break following the exit of Orleans founding member, John Hall, Jerry flew to London and started working with ex-Genesis lead singer Peter Gabriel. For the next two decades, Jerry divided his time between recording and touring with Peter Gabriel, Daryl Hall and John Oates, Tears for Fears, Joan Armatrading, Paul McCartney, Sarah McLachlan, John Mayer and countless others.

Liam Singer is a multi-instrumentalist whose body of work reflects a lifetime of musical obsessions, ranging from minimalism and chance composition to ’80s pop and confessional songwriting. He has studied the piano and harpsichord, and is a self-taught accordionist and Thereminist.

Beyond his solo work, Liam has played keyboards live or in the studio with Slow Six, The Balustrade Ensemble, Alexander Turnquist, Sontag Shogun, and most recently, “Simon’s Dream”, performing the music of The Penguin Cafe Orchestra.

Liam lives in Catskill, NY where he and his wife, Laura, run the music venue/Korean restaurant, “The Avalon Lounge.” “The Ocean”, released in 2021, is his sixth studio recording.

Originally from Banks, Oregon, Jonathan Talbott is a composer, violinist, violinmaker, tracker and naturalist. In addition to his violin making and repair, he plays in a number of ensembles in upstate New York, including the Jazz string band, “Lucky Five,” and “Simon’s Dream,” performing the music of The Penguin Cafe Orchestra.

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