".
. . one of Scotland's most valued
tradition-bearers."
—
BBC Radio Scotland
"the expressive gamut from
deep Celtic melancholy to joyful
jig, his fiddle imitations of
the bagpipe almost unbelievable,
the whole rendered with a humble
sincerity, flawless virtuosity
and just about the sweetest sound
since Fritz Kreisler."
—L.A. TIMES
"Alasdair Fraser is recognized throughout
the world as one of the finest fiddle players
Scotland has ever produced. [His] name is synonymous
with the vibrant cultural renaissance which
is transforming the Scottish musical scene." —SCOTS
Magazine
Master Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser is
a consummate performer. His dynamic fiddling,
engaging stage presence, and deep understanding
of Scotland's music have created a constant
and international demand for his solo appearances
and concerts with a variety of ensembles. Alasdair
has been a major force behind the resurgence of traditional
Scottish fiddling in his homeland and the U.S., inspiring
legions of listeners and learners through his recordings,
annual fiddle camps, and concerts. He has represented
Scotland internationally through performances sponsored
by the British Council, and has been awarded touring
support by the California Arts Council, with the ranking
of "highest priority for inclusion on the roster; considered
'model' in stature."
Alasdair's richly expressive playing transports listeners
across a broad musical spectrum, ranging from haunting
laments from the Gaelic tradition to classically-styled
airs, raucous dance tunes, and improvisations based
on traditional themes. His vast repertoire spans several
centuries of Scottish music and includes his own compositions,
which blend a profound understanding of the Scottish
tradition with cutting-edge musical explorations. He
weaves through his performances a warm and witty narrative,
drawing from a deep well of stories and lore surrounding
Scotland's musical heritage.
Fraser has been featured on over 100 television and
radio shows in the UK, and on several nationally-broadcast
programs in the US, including CBS Sunday Morning, NPR Morning
Edition, A Prairie Home Companion,
and The Thistle & Shamrock. On The
Kennedy Center Honors (CBS TV) Fraser played
a special solo tribute to honoree Sean Connery,
a fellow Scot, in a segment that included Catherine
Zeta-Jones. Alasdair has made guest appearances
with groups as diverse as Los Angeles Master Chorale,
The Waterboys and The Chieftains, and as featured
soloist along with Itzhak Perlman at New York's Lincoln
Center. His film credits include solo performances
on the soundtracks of several major films, including The
Last of the Mohicans and Titanic.
Alasdair has released several critically acclaimed
albums, including the Indie Award-winning Dawn
Dance ( Best Celtic Album of 1996), and
most recently, Legacy
of the Scottish Fiddle, Volume One, on
which Fraser and longtime collaborator pianist Paul
Machlis pay tribute to Scotland's master fiddle
composers of the past 250 years. Fraser has contributed
to more than 50 albums as guest artist, and his music
has been included on top selling Celtic and New Age
compilation albums totaling nearly two million in combined
sales.
Fraser performs in concert as a soloist; with
pianist Paul Machlis; with Scottish guitarist Tony
McManus; with cellist Natalie
Haas, and with his band Skyedance,
which features new music arranged for fiddle, pipes,
flute, keyboards and percussion. In great demand as
a dance musician, Alasdair plays for Scottish country
dancing with pianist Muriel Johnstone. He also
directs the 60-member San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers
orchestra.
Through two summer programs that he founded nearly
two decades ago - the Valley
of the Moon Scottish Fiddling School in California
and a week-long course on the Isle of Skye - Alasdair
has inspired hundreds of aspiring and accomplished
musicians. Several of his tunes are now standard in
the repertoire for Scottish, Irish, and contra dancing,
and can be heard in sessions from Edinburgh to Canberra.
His compositions have been featured in new choreography
commissioned by the Richmond (Virginia) Ballet and
Shiftworks Dance Ensemble. His commissioned works include "Fettercairn
Suite" for Whyte & Mackay Distillers.
Fraser lives with his wife and two sons in the Sierra
Nevada foothills of northern California, operating
his own Culburnie Records label and making frequent
trips to Scotland and beyond for numerous engagements.
SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY
as featured artist: Portrait of a Scottish Fiddler (Culburnie,
CUL009) Skyedance, with Paul Machlis (Culburnie,
CUL101) The Driven Bow, with Jody Stecher (Culburnie,
CUL102) Dawn Dance (Culburnie, CUL106) The Road North, with Paul Machlis (Narada) Way Out to Hope Street, with
Skyedance (Culburnie, CUL111) Return to Kintail, with
Tony McManus (Culburnie, CUL113) Labyrinth, with Skyedance (Culburnie,
CUL116) Legacy of the Scottish Fiddle, Volume
One, with Paul Machlis (Culburnie,
CUL118)
as guest artist: The Fiddler's Friend, by Barbara
MacDonald Magone (Culburnie, CUL103) The Bright Field, by Paul Machlis
(Culburnie, CUL107) Crossing to Scotland, by Abby
Newton (Culburnie, CUL110) Sanctuary, by Twila Paris Leaving the Land & Summer
of My Dreams, by Jean Redpath The Water is Wide & I
Have Seen the Highlands, by Alex Beaton
with various artists: Auld Lang Syne (Culburnie, CUL117) Celtic Odyssey (Narada) Celtic Twilight I * (Hearts of Space Celtic Twilight II (Hearts of Space) Swoon II* (Australian Broadcasting Co.) The Wilderness Collection (Narada) The Gathering (Real World)
* denotes "Gold" records
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