"Traditional music has always been a connective tissue between cultures, communities, and generations. Witness the duo of Scottish fiddle star Fraser and cello prodigy Haas. He is from Clackmannan, a small town in Scotland's smallest county. She is a Juilliard grad from California. When they met, he was teacher, and she was student. And yet on a new CD, "In the Moment," you would think they'd been playing together for centuries. While his fiddle dances, her cello throbs darkly or plucks puckishly. Then she opens her cello's throat, joining Fraser in soaring sustains, windswept refrains, and sudden, jazzy explosions. Their sound is as urbane as a Manhattan midnight, and as wild as a Clackmannan winter." Scott Alarik, Boston Globe
"The musical chemistry between Scottish fiddle legend Alasdair Fraser and young cello ace Natalie Haas is a rare, felicitous thing". Daniel Gewertz, Boston Herald
Quote from Fraser, Haas light fires with a fiddle "He's what the music is all about -- traditional music as an avenue to your soul, it wakes you up from the inside and gets you in touch with ethnic roots and deeper cultural images." Honolulu Star-Bulletin May 2007
Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas join forces with top Scottish and US musicians
Donald Shaw of Capercaillie& James MacIntosh of Shooglenifty, Brittany Haas, Corey DiMario of trend-setting band Crooked Still, Dominick Leslie of Bluegrass’ The Deadly Gentlemen, Hanneke Cassel, Stefan Amidon - and a Nashville brass section led by Kai Welch
16 tracks: The Corrie Man * Neil Gow's Wife * Howard Booster's Style * Farley Bridge * Keys To The Cellar * Connie's Birthday * Les Jumeaux * Pier Walk Waltz * Hot Club d'Ecosse * Ouagadougou Boogie * Braigh Lochiall * The Referendum * John Alick Beaton of Teanassie * On the Wings of a Skorrie * Glenfinnan Nights * The Kelburn Brewer.
THE REFERENDUM was composed by Alasdair for the occasion of Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond's visit to Alasdair's fiddle course at Sabhal Mor Ostaig on the Isle of Skye, and to celebrate the upcoming referendum.
Alasdair Fraser (fiddles, baritone fiddle, viola, kalimba) and Natalie Haas (cellos, kalimba) with special guest musicians Donald Shaw (piano, accordion), James Macintosh (percussion), Corey DiMario (bass), Dominick Leslie (mandolin), Brittany Haas (fiddle), Hanneke Cassel (piano), Stefan Amidon (percussion), Kai Welch (trumpet) and Oscar Utterström (trombone, bass trombone, euphonium).
by Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas Bringing a Fresh Sound to an Old Tradition
Award-winning duo Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas once again unleash their dazzling teamwork, driving, dancing rhythms, and shared passion for taking the infectious melodies and grooves of Scottish/Celtic music on an exciting new journey.
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS:
Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill - Bruce Molsky - Brittany Haas - Hanneke Cassel - Laura Risk - Ryan McKasson - Evan Price - Emily Onderdonk - Mike Block - Tristan Clarridge
Fraser, long regarded as Scotland’s premier fiddle ambassador, and the sizzlingly-talented young California cellist Haas continue to delight audiences with live performances throughout the US, Canada and Europe and with their seminal and highly inspirational previous releases “Fire & Grace” and “In the Moment”.