Elysian Blues II

Forget all the "rules" of music making - Elysian Blues returns

What happens when an ancient guzheng bumps into a jazz pianist trips over a rocking percussionist and falls into the Chinese Museum?

Bold groovy gloriously unpredictable Elysian Blues II pairs the 21-string guzheng - an ancient Chinese zither known for its flowing harp-like sound - with jazz piano and percussion in a bold cross-cultural jazz trio. In this electrifying return season guzheng artist QiQi performs on two guzhengs switching between them throughout the set - sometimes even mid-song - transforming the guzheng from tranquil tradition to riotous rhythm-driven revelation.

It's a genre-breaking jazz fusion session a cultural melting pot an invitation to forget all the "rules" of music making and a chance to discover something unique and unprecedented. After a sold-out debut and a 2024 Melbourne Fringe Award nomination Elysian Blues returns - recharged re-imagined and relocating to the iconic Chinese Museum in the heart of Melbourne's Chinatown.

Created and led by guzheng artist QiQi the show reunites co-composer and jazz pianist Darby Lee with fiery percussionist Alexander Meagher for one day of wild improvisation charming humour and soul-stirring musical storytelling - all set to an original cross-genre score.

From new originals to reworked audience favourites the trio crafts a bold new musical dialect - one where guzheng becomes a jazz instrument keys fly off in a flurry of virtuosity the drum-kit swings and snaps beneath it all and the spontaneous banter makes the audience part of the show. With a bold original score and unpretentious charm Elysian Blues II is intimate playful and unapologetically fun.

What audiences said about Elysian Blues:

"Of the 27 shows I saw this year spanning a complete range of genres this was my clear favourite. What a way to close out the festival!" - John

"Wonderfully refreshing! Fun and funky gentle and lyrical surprising and anarchic mesmerising and poignant - original joyful music! I want more!" - Chris

"They are phenomenal! They composed improvised and adlib during the whole performance keeping the audience spellbound. New brand of music is born!" - Serena

Melbournefringe.com.au





 Chinese Museum - Museum of Chinese Australian History View Venue
 22 Cohen Place Melbourne Victoria 3000 Map

Advertiser: www.qiqimusic.com.au


Melbourne Fringe Festival 2025

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