Press Release

Contact Info:

James Shumway Music

Email: sycamoreproductionsllc@gmail.com

Phone: 385-375-4412

Website: www.jamesshumwaymusic.com

Utah Band Elysian Fields Re-releases its Album “Definition”

Note: This article is about the Utah-based band Elysian Fields, not to be confused with the band by the same name from Brooklyn, NY.

In 1995, Utah-based band Elysian Fields released their album “Definition,” featuring the songwriting talents of James Shumway and Mark Roos and the soaring vocals of Kerri Murray. 

The album has now been re-released on all major streaming sites. 

https://open.spotify.com/album/2YOJ3Vyl60BoR7Lr0In8Xf

“Definition” was recorded by renowned producer Cliff Maag, and was released to positive reviews.  Utah’s largest newspaper, the Deseret News, hailed the album as "a breath of fresh air" amidst the music scene of the time and said it was "definitely one for the local band collector.” 

“Staying With You,” a tender ballad about finding one’s soulmate, became an instant hit with fans.  Other fan favorites included “Wings to Fly,” “My Fantasy,” “When the Days Get Hot,” "Eternal Flame," “Take My Hand,” and “Desert Sky.” 

At the heart of Elysian Fields’ music was a connection to the human experience—setting out to achieve one’s dreams, the joy of finding love, the tragedy of losing it, an emotional connection to nature, etc. 

In addition to their song writing duties, Mark Roos was the band’s guitarist and James Shumway the keyboardist.  The band’s solid rhythm section was provided by Dale Sandbeg on bass guitar and Jeff Francom on drums.

Sandberg was also Cliff’s assistant in the studio and played a major role in the album’s final sound production.

“Definition” has now been re-released for those who never got to hear the original CD, and so those who did can enjoy the music of Elysian Fields all over again. 

In 1993, Mark Roos and James Shumway, who had previously been in a band in high school, began songwriting together again.  Their hunt for a lead singer soon led to them meeting Kerri Murray, who had just moved to Utah from Arizona. 

The band was officially formed in early 1994, and because Roos, Shumway, and Murray were so pleased with the music they were creating, a plan was made to record a full-length album before they had played a single live show.

The name chosen for the band was Elysian Fields, after the paradise for the blessed in Greek mythology, and the studio chosen for recording the album was the Record Lab run by renowned producer Cliff Maag, who had worked with a number of famous artists. 

Jeff Francom, who lived near the studio, was hired as the studio drummer, and later became the band’s official drummer.  Dale Sandberg, who worked as Cliff’s assistant at the Record Lab, later became the band’s official bass player. 

Throughout 1995 Elysian Fields played live shows around the state of Utah, and the album “Definition” was released in November of that year to positive reviews.  Utah’s largest newspaper, the Deseret News, hailed the album as "a breath of fresh air" amidst the music scene of the time and said it was "definitely one for the local band collector.” 

“Staying with You,” a tender ballad about finding one’s soulmate, became an instant hit with fans.  Other fan favorites included “Wings to Fly,” “My Fantasy,” “When the Days Get Hot,” "Eternal Flame," “Take My Hand,” and “Desert Sky.” 

The band’s live show was every bit as good as the album and included additional original songs, plus cover songs from other artists.

James Shumway and Jeff Francom sung background vocals to Kerri Murray’s lead, and Francom was known for his remarkable ability to sing while playing drums at the same time. 

Roos left the band in early 1996 and was replaced by guitarist Kevin Weiss, and the band continued to play shows throughout the state until disbanding later that year. 

Even though Elysian Fields was together for a short time, their album “Definition” will stand as a great musical achievement that can continue to be enjoyed by fans for generations to come.