Bassist

Mathew Fieldes, a native New Zealander now living in New York, has played regularly with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and the New Zealand Sym. Orch. Versatile in both instrument (double bass and electric bass guitar), and musical genre, his numerous recording and tour dates have included performances with a variety of artists from Placido Domingo, Kin Te Kanawa, and the New Zealand String Quartet, to Shirley Bassey, Joe Williams, and Arturo Sandoval.

In 1994, Mr. Fieldes was granted the New Zealand Young Achiever award and was the subject of a 1995 television documentary. In 1994 he entered the graduate program at the Juilliard School, studying with Eugene Levinson. He played Principal Bass with the Juilliard Orchestra, including their concerts at Avery Fisher Hall and, after graduating in 1997, in tours of Japan and Korea. He was also chosen to play with the Juilliard Chamber Orchestra in its inaugural season.

He is currently Principal Bass with Absolute Ensemble, conducted by Kristjan Järvi, and freelances with a number of groups, including the Westchester Symphony Orchestra, the Jose Limon Dance Company, Continuum, and the New England Symphonic Ensemble. His interests include jazz and rock bass styles, and he performs in all idioms. He was solo bass in the New Juilliard Ensemble recording with jazz legend Ornette Coleman. Last year, he performed both double bass and electric bass with conductor Joel Sachs in the Museum of Modern Art's Summergarden series. In addition his group, the Matt Fieldes Jazz Quartet, performed in venues throughout Manhattan in its summer series. This past season he made recordings with groups including Absolute Ensemble and Joe Jackson. His concert work has included the Contemporary Chamber Orchestra of Taiwan, the Key West Orchestra, the South Bend Symphony, the New York Microtonal Festival, the Summergarden series and the Absolute Ensemble series.