"Rarely can two acoustic players have made such a massive, mighty noise as Fraser and McManus... ...you could almost hear the sound of jaws dropping right, left and centre as they stampeded into the final straight..."
"Fraser's intensely expressive phrasing and astonishing dynamic range achieved joyous symbiosis with McManus' intricate, silvery picking and agile rhythmic twists.” —Sue Wilson, The Scotsman
Master Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser and Tony McManus, one of the most admired guitarists on the Celtic scene, unite their creative forces in a partnership of incredible musical power and beauty. Drawing from deep wells of tradition and technical prowess, they explore the rich range of Scottish music, from the pipe tunes and song airs of the Highlands to the music of Scotland's noted fiddler/composers such as Marshall, Skinner, and the Gows. The duo flows from the intimate and subtle nuances of a poignant Gaelic lament to a no-holds-barred fiddle flurry of strathspeys and reels, captivating audiences wherever they perform.
Critics and crowds have been raving since Tony joined Alasdair on stage for a seat-of-the-pants concert cum jam session in Glasgow, Scotland in November 1996. Since then, the duo has performed at major festivals in Australia, Denmark, Canada, the United States and Scotland. Their eagerly-awaited debut album, Return to Kintail, was released by Culburnie Records in 1999.
"Talk about a dream team: The fiddler regarded by many as the finest current exponent of the Scots tradition, paired with the Paisley-born guitarist who's melodic and rhythmic artistry has been setting audiences afire around the world."
- Celtic Connection Program
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DISCOGRAPHY (as Alasdair Fraser and Tony McManus)
Return to Kintail, Alasdair Fraser & Tony McManus (Culburnie Records, 1999)
Heat the Hoose, various artists (Tartan Records, 1998)
Celtic Colours II, various artists (SMP Records, 1998)
REVIEWS
"Fraser and McManus blew us away comprehensively. Fraser's intensely expressive phrasing and astonishing dynamic range achieved joyous symbiosis with McManus's intricate, silvery picking and agile rhythmic twists."
Sue Wilson, The Scotsman - Scotland
"At times they did the impossible, making a duo sound like a four or five piece ensemble. The finale of their fantastic musical journey saw a packed audience cheering for encore after encore."
RBC, Highland Gathering - Australia
"This was pure communication, first between two artists, and then to a sea of waiting hearts."
Kelley Edwards, What's Going On Magazine - Nova Scotia, Canada
PERFORMANCES:
Celtic Connections Festival, Glasgow, Scotland
Celtic Colours Festival, Cape Breton, Canada
Fiddle '96, '97 & '98, Edinburgh, Scotland
Sebastopol Celtic Festival, California
Hebridean Festival, Isle of Lewis, Scotland
Highland Music Festival, Scotland
Brunswick Folk Festival, Brunswick, Victoria, Australia
National Folk Festival, Canberra, ACT, Australia
Halker Kro Folk Festival, Denmark
Varsity Theater, Davis, California
St. John's Presbyterian Church, Berkeley, California
Milam Auditorium at Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon
Aladdin Theater, Portland, Oregon
Skagit Valley College, Mt. Vernon, Washington
Museum of History and Industry, Seattle, Washington
Avalon Theater, Easton, Maryland
The Ram's Head, Annapolis, Maryland
The Birchmere, Alexandria, Virginia
Olin Arts Center, Lewiston, Maine
Chocolate Church, Bath, Maine
Somerville Theater, Boston, Massachusetts
Museum of our Natural Heritage, Lexington, Massachusetts
The Knitting Factory, New York, New York
Josephine Muller Auditorium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Cannon Chapel at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
Be Here Now, Asheville, North Carolina
Henry Wood Hall, Glasgow, Scotland
Valley of the Moon Fiddlers Concert, Santa Cruz, California
Performing Arts Center at Cal State Northridge, Northridge, California
Fiddle Summit, M.L. King Jr., JHS Auditorium, Berkeley, California
