FIDDLEON Magazine ISSUE 35 Summer/Autumn 2011

Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas

This is Alasdair Fraser’s third collaboration with Natalie Haas, following the previously excellent albums Fire and Grace and In the Moment. There is an eloquence and intensity in this musical partnershipwhich few others match. Alasdair Fraser has for a long time been recognized as one of the finest exponents of the Scottish fiddle. He plays with characteristic flair and accuracy and Natalie Haas delivers tremendous power and rhythmic edge from the cello. There are also some fine guests on this album including Bruce Molsky, Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill. It is in the nature of the Scottish tradition to emphasise precision and incorporate harmony, and this album does that with consummate skill. The music is superbly arranged and presented and the beautiful sound of the instruments working together is one of the highlights of this album. As well as a wealth of Scottish material, including two pieces by Nathaniel Gow, there is a set of Galician tunes and also a French Scottische, La Sansonette. The Galician tunes have a particularly distinctive feel and perhaps ‘A Muinera de Chantada’ will now find it’s way into the session repertoire courtesy of this album. Overall there’s a great deal to listen to and absorb here and you have to put the work in. But if you do the effort is well rewarded.

Chris Mills