Elysian Blues is a bold, high-energy live performance blending guzheng, jazz and improvisation into a sound world that is vibrant, playful and completely unpredictable.

 

Centred around the 21-string guzheng — a traditional Chinese instrument rarely heard in contemporary jazz settings — Elysian Blues reimagines its shimmering, expressive sound through groove-driven rhythms, cinematic textures, virtuosic improvisation and spontaneous musical interplay.

 

Moving effortlessly between driving jazz fusion, lyrical soundscapes, explosive rhythmic moments and intimate musical conversation, the performance is raw, expressive and full of personality. No two shows unfold in exactly the same way, with improvisation and live interaction shaping each performance in real time.

 

Both musically adventurous and deeply accessible, Elysian Blues invites audiences to experience the guzheng in an entirely new light — not as something distant or delicate, but as an instrument capable of power, humour, groove and exhilarating spontaneity.

 

Following a sold-out debut season and multiple Melbourne Fringe Award nominations, Elysian Blues continues to captivate audiences with its genre-defying sound, unpretentious charm and electrifying live energy.

 

Available in flexible formats - performed as a duo or trio, ranging from a 30-minute festival set through to a full 75-minute performance.

 

Listen to the original live album recording or watch a short concert excerpt below.