Elysian Fields was formed almost three years ago by highly regarded viola da gambist, Jenny Eriksson, and co-lead by improvised music icons, Matt Keegan (saxophones) and Matt McMahon (piano). Elysian Fields has quickly built a reputation for its unique tone colours and eclectic set list which swings in the moment from funky blues, to the cool Scandinavian jazz of Eriksson’s heritage, haunting folk songs and broad soundscapes created by Keegan and McMahon. Elysian Fields is deeply committed to creating and presenting new Australian music, largely composed by its members.
Eriksson is widely recognised as one of Australia’s leading acoustic viola da gambists – a 7 string, bowed instrument about the size of a cello but with frets - and one of her instruments great risk-takers. She is an expert on the music of the great French viola da gambist, Marin Marais, whose life was celebrated in the cult film, “Tour les matins du monde”. Alongside, and as a part of, her highly regarded classical chamber music performances, Jenny has performed and recorded with jazz and world music artists for many years. Her collaborators include Llew and Mara Kiek and Steve Elphick from the Mara! band, horn player and composer, Paul Cutlan, Matt McMahon, Joseph Tawadros, Kevin Hunt and Matt Keegan as well as Susie Bishop and Emily Rose Sarkova from Chaika.
Having attended jazz and improvised music gigs for many years, Eriksson decided several years ago to buy a newly designed electric viola da gamba and move beyond her early music heritage.
Elysian Field’s influences are as broad as its members and include Swedish jazz greats, e.s.t., Herbie Hancock, Jaco Pastorius, Tord Gustavson, Victor Wooten, Mats Norrefalk, Jean-Luc Ponty, Weather Report, Mara!, Jordi Savall, Marin Marais, John McLauglin, Pat Metheny, Hans Gunnar Hoff and Joni Mitchell.
The band takes its name from Eriksson’s sister in law’s beautiful north coast property, Elysian Fields, where she spent time practicing and arranging music for the band’s launch at Foundry 616 in November, 2015.