Listen & tracks

3 of 17 tracks have a preview · 9 works · 50:54

1 Living Jan Gunnar Hoff 5:46
2 Frid på Jord (Peace on Earth) Sofia Karlsson 8:49
3 Vi ska ställa till en roliger dans (We are going to put on a fun dance) Traditional 3:16
4 Låt till Far (Tune to my father) Pers Erik Olsson 4:11
5 När som jag var på mitt adertonde år (When I was in my eighteenth year) Traditional 5:12
6 Meditatus Jan Gunnar Hoff 6:00
7 Cold Soul Matt Keegan 5:01
8 The Tragedy Siebe Pogson 7:24
9 Believe Beleft Below Esbjörn Svensson 5:15

Elysian Fields – Australia’s only electric viola da gamba ensemble – draws together leading players from the country’s jazz, classical and world music scenes. The music on Fika is steeped in Scandinavia. It grows from viola da gambist and artistic director Jenny Eriksson’s Swedish ancestry – her grandfather arrived in Melbourne from Stockholm in the 1920s – and from her long affection for Scandinavian jazz and folk.

Fika (pronounced ‘fee-ka’) takes its name from the Swedish practice of stopping for coffee, talk and pastries with friends and family. The ensemble is unusually well placed for a project that spans both hemispheres.

Eriksson already brings deep experience of Swedish baroque and folk repertoire. Singer and violinist Susie Bishop has close ties to Sweden through her partner, visits often, speaks the language, and sings all but two of the songs in Swedish. Saxophonist and composer Matt Keegan, who also produced the album, spent a year studying in Sweden; his piece Cold Soul answers the frozen landscapes of the north. Bass guitarist Siebe Pogson is Swedish on his mother’s side and has travelled there several times.

Beside folk arrangements by pianist Matt McMahon and by Bishop, Fika offers Australian-first recordings of music by Norwegian jazz pianist and composer Jan Gunnar Hoff and by the Swedish trio e.s.t. Bass player Dave Ellis first pointed Eriksson toward Hoff’s work; the composer proved generous and supportive. The album opens with Hoff’s Living and closes with a heartfelt reading of the e.s.t. ballad Believe Beleft Below.

The booklet carries paintings by Swedish artist Nils Gunnar Zander, a friend of Eriksson’s who for twenty-five years has split his time between Australia and Stockholm, drawing on the colours of the outback. Fika is music made from and for the soul: it reaches out and holds on.

In the artist’s words

As a concept, Fika (pron. ‘fee-ka’) probably started life with my acoustic ensemble, The Marais Project. Several years ago, group member Tommie Andersson, who is Swedish, and I put on a concert of Swedish music. This led to a CD of classical, folk, baroque and jazz from Sweden called Smörgåsbord. As well as being one of Australia’s top lutenists and guitarists, Tommie is an expert on Swedish folk music. He made some gorgeous arrangements for that project, one song of which we also feature on Fika. My grandfather was Swedish, and I still have relatives there – many of whom are fine amateur musicians. I revelled then and now in the opportunity to explore this aspect of my background.

Scandinavian repertoire started creeping into Elysian Fields’ set list quite early. This was partly due to the fact that Susie Bishop has links to Sweden via her partner and visits often. She also sings in Swedish and plays the violin beautifully – the fiddle being the backbone of much Scandinavian folk music. We launched a Scandinavian Project at Foundry616 in 2018. The program was a mix of composed works by band members, folk song arrangements and charts by Scandinavian jazz artists. We continued to add to this repertoire and in January 2020 we hit the studio. We did not know it then, but the world was already under the grim shadow of Covid-19.

As our gigs started to get cancelled and cashflow dried up, we made the decision to dig deep and finish the project. There is a reason for this. Fika is often translated in English as a coffee break. In reality, it means more than that. Fika is about making time for friends and family, to share a cup of coffee and a bite to eat. You can’t do fika alone although ironically, as I write this, many people are isolated or separated from those they love. Long before the current crisis we wanted to create a beautiful recording that would bring people together, as fika does. This music is our offering to the world.

— Jenny Eriksson

Reviews

... six players of diverse backgrounds (were given) a chance to excavate a unique collective sound ... classical, folk, jazz and early music ... The band here achieves that goal on a repertoire of Scandinavian folk music: pieces that readily accommodate the eccentric instrumentation, and also grooves, textures, harmonies and improvisational language rooted in jazz. The source material is often exquisite, and the arrangements deft. ★★★★

— John Shand, Sydney Morning Herald

... the alluring melodies and wonderfully nuanced playing on this album make it a highly successful jazz-classical hybrid with wide appeal. ★★★★

— Jessica Nicholas, Dingo Jazz

Their aim of creating a beautiful recording has well and truly been achieved, and once our lives return to some semblance of normality following the emergence of the virus that has shaken the world, Fika will indeed bring people together. With the exception of the song ‘Vi ska stalla till en roliger dans’ (We are going to put on a fun dance) which is a happy rustic folk dance complete with a folksy violin, all the tracks have a meditative quality to them. It’s impossible to put Elysian Fields, made up as it is of baroque and jazz musicians, into a definitive musical category.

— Loretta Barnard, australianjazz.net

'Living' is a Jan Bunnar Hoff composition. The distinct sounds of Norway run through the flowing melody as the ensemble brings the song to life with energy and vitality. Bishops’ violin and Eriksson’s electric viola da gamba blend with Keegan’s warm saxophone to give a beautiful sonority. Keegan’s improvisations are passionate and flow in a manner complementary to the melody and overall mood of the composition. The marriage of jazz and Scandinavian music is beautiful. 'Vi Ska ställa till enroliger dans' is a traditional melody that has been used as a round dance-singing game since the 1800s in Stockholm. The counterpoint in the instrumental sections is varied and plentiful with exciting textures and sounds. FIKA is a beautiful recording that captures an ensemble that is creative and passionate about their artistic statement. This album has an extensive musical appeal and needs to be heard.

— Griff Stevens, 5 Finger Review

The least I can say about this CD is that it’s uncommon; you won’t find much to compare it with on the folk or jazz or serious music scenes.

— Clive O'Connell, O'Connell the Music

The music speaks of passion and the human condition. It is a triumphant merger of the baroque period viola da gamba, a sublime soprano voice and other instruments often associated with jazz. Highly recommended.

— Robert Vale, Fine Music Sydney / 2MBS

The music on Fika is a fusion that transcends jazz, classical and folk idioms, although it really has its own identity, created from the deep Scandinavian roots of Eriksson and her troupe. Listening to the tracks, I am aware that this is ‘living’ music – written by contemporary legends but embracing ideas from the past and developing new ideas from the present. A soothing listen, perfect for intimate times with family and friends.

— Shamistha de Soysa, SoundsLikeSydney

Elysian Fields’ latest offering Fika – The Scandinavian Project, is a celebration of culture, personal history and sharing together during times of isolation. In all, Elysian Fields’ Fika is a thoroughly enjoyable album, taking the listener on a journey through Scandinavian folk music and more.

— Claire Matthews, classikON

The repertoire on FIKA is diverse and consists of original works by band members, arrangements of Scandinavian folk songs alongside pieces from contemporary Scandinavian jazz artists. The skill of the performers ensures that the music was always refined and maintained a high degree of clarity, regardless of its complexity. There were many stand out moments for me listening to FIKA. I enjoyed hearing the variety and combination of original music and of new arrangements of Scandinavian traditional and contemporary repertoire.

— Rafael Karlen, Music Trust e-zine Loud Mouth

Artists

Elysian Fields

ensemble

Elysian Fields, Australia’s only electric viola da gamba ensemble, was formed by Jenny Eriksson, Matt Keegan and Matt McMahon in 2015. The band is an ongoing experiment in new improvised and composed repertoire for the electric viola da gamba, of which Eriksson is believed to be the only Australian exponent.

Tommie Andersson

composer

Tommie Andersson was born in Sweden and has been based in Sydney since 1984. He is regarded as Australia's leading specialist in lutes and early guitars, and as a continuo player and soloist across the early-music repertoire.

Jennifer Eriksson

composer

Jennifer Eriksson completed her initial musical studies at the Sydney Conservatorium before moving to the Netherlands for three years of viola da gamba tuition with Jaap ter Linden at Rotterdam Conservatorium.

Jan Gunnar Hoff

composer

Jan Gunnar Hoff is a Norwegian composer/pianist who has two compositions on the Elysian Fields CD 'Fika'.

Sofia Karlsson

composer

Sofia Karlsson (b. 1975) is one of Sweden's best-known and most successful contemporary folk singers.

Matt Keegan

composer

Matt Keegan regularly performs throughout Australia and around the world. As a saxophonist, composer, arranger and producer he has released eight albums and won the MCA Freedman Fellowship for jazz.

Matt McMahon

composer

Matt McMahon is a Sydney-based pianist, keyboardist and composer. After studying music and English literature at Sydney University and jazz at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, he has performed and recorded actively since 1993.

Pers Erik Olsson

composer

Pers Erik Olsson (1912–1983) was a Swedish folk musician and member of a famous musical family from the province of Dalarna, north west of Stockholm.

Siebe Pogson

composer

Siebe Pogson is a multi-instrumentalist, composer and bassist from Sydney, leader of the jazz-funk group Funk Engine and a composer for Australia’s only electric viola da gamba ensemble, Elysian Fields.

Esbjörn Svensson

composer

Esbjörn Svensson (1964–2008) was a Swedish jazz pianist and composer who founded the Esbjörn Svensson Trio (e.s.t.), among Europe’s most successful jazz ensembles at the turn of the century.

Susie Bishop

composer

Susie Bishop is an Australian singer and violinist whose work moves freely between opera, early music, jazz, folk and world fusion. She writes and arranges as well as performs.

Digital booklet

Digital booklet Notes, texts and credits — read online or download the PDF Download the PDF

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$25.00 AUD

Compact disc

Buywell Music Australian Music Centre

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Also available to download from the iTunes Store.

Performers

Elysian Fields · ensemble
Susie Bishop · voice, violin
Matt Keegan · saxophones
Jennifer Eriksson · electric viola da gamba
Siebe Pogson · bass guitar
Dave Goodman · drums
Matt McMahon · piano

Technical credits

Producer Jennifer Eriksson
Matt Keegan
Philip Pogson
Recording Engineer Richard Belkner
Editing Engineer Jennifer Eriksson
Matt Keegan
Niall Cameron
Mixing Engineer Richard Belkner
Mastering Engineer Michael Lynch
Venue Free Energy Device Studios

Details

List price: $25.00 AUD
Total playing time: 50 minutes 54 seconds
Release date: 1 Jul 2020
Category: Jazz
Genres: Jazz & Improvised, Folk, World & Cross-cultural
Catalogue: MCD 603
EAN: 9314574060324

More to explore

What should I say

Australia’s only electric viola da gamba band, Elysian Fields joins Jenny Eriksson with jazz colleagues Matt Keegan and Matt McMahon in new repertoire that sets Renaissance verse beside contemporary improvisation.

Exquisite Harmonies

Exquisite Harmonies features works for viola da gamba and harpsichord, and several harpsichord solos, largely from the French Baroque. The exceptions are Telemann, Abel and Australian composer Troy Russell. A nice treat is an improvised harpsichord fantasia in the style of Telemann.