Swedish pianist and composer Mats Skimmelå showcases his creativity with “Fenway,” a cool, modern, uptempo jazz composition inspired by Fenway Street in Boston. Featuring an interesting and unusual chord progression, the track is particularly defined by its chromatic descending bass line, giving the piece a distinctive musical character and forward-moving energy.
Born in 1965 in Butorp, Deje, Sweden, Skimmelå developed an early passion for music. He initially played piano before switching to guitar, where discovering the possibilities of playing chords became an important milestone in his musical development. At 18, he returned to piano studies and later attended two Swedish folk high schools focused on music.
In 1991, Mats moved to Boston to study at Berklee College of Music, graduating in 1994 before returning to Sweden. After settling in Stockholm in 1995, he worked as a freelance musician across numerous projects before moving to Mariestad in 2017.
Today, Skimmelå continues to perform with local artists and is part of Duo Svanbäck & Skimmelå, a project exploring gospel, hymns, and jazz. With “Fenway,” he combines his international musical experiences with his distinctive approach to contemporary jazz.
