Simon Jeffes (1949-1997). British composer, conductor and musician
Simon Jeffes was a British guitarist, conductor and composer. He was the principal conductor of the Penguin Café Orchestra, an innovative group formed in the 1970s that fused classical music with pop, folk and modern music. They utilised unconventional instruments such as ukulele, penny whistle and electric guitar alongside standard orchestral instruments, allowing their music to become as eclectic as the instruments. The Penguin Café Orchestra inspired choreographer David Bintley to create in 1988 the ballet ‘Still Life’ at the Penguin Café, a cabaret-like ballet where the performers imitate penguins, fleas, rats and zebras masquerading as people. The work reflects the eclectic work of Jeffes, and the creative flair of the ensemble after which the ballet was named.