Culburnie Records

Master Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser is a consummate performr. His dynamic fiddling, engaging stage presence, and deep understanding of Scotland's music have created 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 courses, 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."

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 feature 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 pianist Paul Machlis pay tribute to Scotland's master fiddle composers. 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.

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 performs in concert as a soloist; in various duets featuring fiddle with cello, piano or guitar; 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 100-member San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers orchestra.

Culburnie Records, PO Box 219, Nevada City, CA 95959,
Ph: 530/292-4219; Fax: 530/292-4352;
Email: usinfo@culburnie.com
www.culburnie.com

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.

"Scotland's music is so rich. It can speak to every mood and emotion, from wild, raucous dance tunes to plaintive airs. But it's crucial that it not be regarded as a museum piece, or finished product. What keeps the music alive is that each player puts a personal spin on it. You have to make the music your own."

Culburnie Records
PO Box 219,
Nevada City, CA 95959
Ph: 530/292-4219; Fax: 530/292-4352
Email: usinfo@culburnie.com
www.culburnie.com

Portrait of a Scottish Fiddler - Alasdair Fraser

ALBUMS
Legacy of the Scottish Fiddle, Volume One, Alasdair Fraser & Paul Machlis (Culburnie 2001)
Labyrinth, Skyedance (Culburnie, 2000)
Return to Kintail, Alasdair Fraser & Tony McManus (Culburnie, 1999)
Way Out to Hope Street, Skyedance (Culburnie, 1997) **Indie Award Finalist, Celtic Album of the Year **
Dawn Dance, Alasdair Fraser (Culburnie, 1995) **Indie Award Winner, Celtic Album of the Year **
The Road North, Alasdair Fraser & Paul Machlis (Sona Gaia/Narada, 1989)
The Driven Bow, Alasdair Fraser & Jody Stecher (Culburnie Records, 1988)
Skyedance, Alasdair Fraser & Paul Machlis (Culburnie Records, 1986)
Portrait of a Scottish Fiddler, Alasdair Fraser (Brownrigg, Canada, 1983; Culburnie 1987)

VIDEO APPEARANCES
Cape Breton Fiddler Buddy MacMaster (Seabright, 1992)
I Belong to Glasgow, Alex Beaton (Glenfinnan)

FILM SOUNDTRACK feature performances
Titanic (Warner -1997)
Last of the Mohicans (20th Century Fox, 1992)
Wyatt Earp (Warner, 1994)
The Spitfire Grill (1996)

COMPILATION albums
The Gathering, various artists (RealWorld, 1996)
Celtic Twilight I, II, various artists (Hearts of Space, 1994, 1995)
Celtic Odyssey, various artists (Narada, 1993)
Celtic Lullabies, various artists (Hearts of Space, 1996)
Celtic Connections, various artists (Living Tradition, 1994)
Boston Fiddlers Rally, various artists (Paddledoo, 1996)
The Wilderness Collection, various artists (Narada, 1990)

ALBUMS PRODUCED BY ALASDAIR FRASER
The Fiddler's Friend, Barbara MacDonald Magone (Culburnie Records, 1989)
Journey Begun, Laura Risk and Athena Tergis (Culburnie Records, 1994)
Crossing to Scotland, Abby Newton (Culburnie, 1997)

RECORDINGS AS GUEST ARTIST
Chris Norman, Beauty of the North (Dorian, 1994) Portraits (Dorian, 1998)
Kepa Junkera, Bilbao 00:00h (Ediciones Resistencia, 1998)
Kim Robertson, Angels in Disguise (Invincible, 1990)
Jean Redpath, Leaving the Land, (Philo, 1990), Summer of my Dreams, (Jean Redpath, 1995)
Derek Bell, The Mystic Harp (Crystal Clarity, 1995)
Alex Beaton, The Water is Wide (Glenfinnan, 1995), I Have Seen the Highlands (Glenfinnan, 1992)
Twila Paris, Sanctuary (1991)
Paul Machlis, The Bright Field (Culburnie, 1995), The Magic Horse (Invincible)
San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers In Concert (1995), On Tour (1998)
Jody Stecher & Kate Brislin, (Rounder, 1996)

- Kennedy Center Honors (nationally televised US)
- Titanic (Film Soundtrack performance)
- Soldiers (Film Soundtrack performance)
- The Spitfire Grill (Film Soundtrack performance)
- Last of the Mohicans, 20th Century Fox (Film Soundtrack performance)
- Wyatt Earp, Warner Bros. (Film Soundtrack performance)
- CBS TV Sunday Morning
- A Prairie Home Companion, American Public Radio, Disney TV
- Sounds Gaelic, Scottish Television (STV)
- The Late Late Show, TV, Ireland
- Songs of Scotland, British Broadcasting Corp., TV
- Good Morning Texas (ABC)
- Stage 9, PBS TV
- Hogmenay at Scone Palace, Grampian TV (nationally televised UK)
- Arts National, Canadian Broadcasting Corp.
- Robert Burns of Scotland, National Public Radio (US) broadcast
- The Thistle and Shamrock (NPR)
- BBC Radio, Gaelic Music and Song series, and Tour of the Western Isles
- BBC Radio Scotland, numerous performances: Travelling Folk, Queen Street Gardens, Shepherd's Fancy, Mr.Anderson's Fine Tunes

- Edinburgh International Festival
- Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Robert Burns Celebration
- "Fiddles on Fire," tour throughout Scotland and England
- Shetland Fiddle Festival
- Edinburgh International Folk Festival, Usher Hall
- Castle Fraser, National Trust for Scotland (BBC broadcast)
- Queen's Hall, Edinburgh
- Eden Court Theatre, Inverness
- Celtic Connections, artist in residence, Glasgow
- Aberdeen Alternative Music Festival, Aberdeen Music Hall
- Queen Elizabeth Hall, London
- Blair Castle

- Lincoln Center, New York City, "Fiddlefest"
- Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles Music Center
- Cork, Ireland "Eisge na Laoi" Festival
- Sidmouth International Festival, England
- Inter-Celtic Folk Festival, Lorient, Brittany
- United Scottish Cultural Center, Vancouver, British Columbia
- Place des Arts, Montreal
- Teatro Monumental Symphony Hall, Madrid, Spain
- Ateneo Recital Hall, Caracas, Venezuela
- Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts
- Massasoit Community College, Massachusetts
- University of Oregon, Beall Hall Eugene
- University of Illinois, Krannert Center
- Centennial Theatre, Vancouver, B.C.
- Sanders Theatre, Harvard University, Massachusetts
- Stone Mountain Highland Games, Atlanta, Georgia
- New Hampshire Highland Games
- United Scottish Society Games, Costa Mesa, California

-Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddling School, California, Founder/Instructor (since 1984)
- Sabhal Mor Ostaig Gaelic College Fiddle Course , Isle of Skye, Scotland, Founder/Instructor (since 1987)
- Royal Academy of Music, Glasgow, Scotland
- Ashokan Fiddle & Dance Camp, New York
- University of California at Berkeley, Special Music Instructor
- Augusta Heritage School, Davis & Elkins College, West Virginia
- Fiddle '96, Fiddle '97, Fiddle '98 Master Classes, Edinburgh, Scotland
- San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers, Founder/Music Director
- Aberdeen Alternative Music Festival, Musician-in-Residence
- Fiddle Tunes Festival, Port Townsend, Washington
- California Music Educators Association Conference
- British Columbia Pipers' AssociationProduction

"With fire in his soul and a twinkle in his eye, Alasdair Fraser breathed life into music by the earliest masters up to the present day. The many voices of the Scottish fiddle, whether derived from the skirl of the pipes or Gaelic song, or inspired by the more luscious tones of Fritz Kreisler, were put across with consummate technical skill, sparkling humor and above all, a burning sense of commitment." —Aberdeen Press and Journal

"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." —Los Angeles Times

"An uncanny, spellbinding balance of lightness and depth, earthiness and subtlety, sweetness and raw fire."—Scotland on Sunday

"One of Scotland's most valued tradition-bearers" —Neil Fraser, former Head of BBC Radio Scotland

"Alasdair Fraser was his normal genius self on both the dervish-quick strathspeys and the emotionally ravishing slow airs. His fiddling has such richness of rhythm and technical wizardry . . . his imaginative essence is passion."—The Boston Herald

"Fiddle playing of the highest order, a rarely heard clarity of playing without sacrificing the feel and enthusiasm so necessary to traditional playing"—Living Tradition

"With his vigorous, dancing sense of pace and humor, Alasdair Fraser created something of a ceilidh out of the formal setting"—Norman Chalmers, Scotland on Sunday

"Natural heir to the great Scots fiddlers Neil Gow and Scott Skinner" —Glasgow Herald

"Fraser is a remarkably gifted technician with a gloriously rich, silvery sonority, but never resorts to bravura technique or simple speed, preferring instead to tease out the intricate flow of melodic variations and embellishments, relying on musicality rather than muscle." —Scotland on Sunday

"this extraordinary Scots fiddler whose skills and passionate playing are steeped in tradition, but recognize no boundaries."—Into the Music

"Stating that Alasdair Fraser is a fiddle player is a bit like saying Pavarotti can sing" —Living Tradition

"Fraser's fiddle solos were show-stoppers. He plays with a cleverness, almost sassiness, that had people cheering and dancing in their seats . . ."—The Boston Globe

"I would like to give Alasdair my highest recommendation both for his artistry and his uncanny ability to interact with a live audience. His use of a wireless microphone allowed Alasdair to join in with the dancers, acting as a Pied Piper in a kilt. He is not only a superb musician and excellent performer, he is one of the nicest and most accommodating artists we have ever worked with. We feel lucky to have had him as a part of our event."
—Dan DeWayne. California World Music Festival

"Alasdair is without doubt the most popular and accomplished Scottish Fiddler on this side of the Atlantic. His concerts at NHHG are always sold out first and our surveys consistently rank him as the most popular entertainer appearing at our great event."
— David Christie, New Hampshire Highland Games

"Alasdair brings a dynamic energy to his live performance that is electric, beguiling, and mesmerizing. His strings burn with the energy! I can enthusiastically recommend Alasdair Fraser."
— Elaine Weissman, California Traditional Music Society (CTMS)

"I knew within the first five minutes of his set that this show would be unique. When he got the audience to join him in learning a Scottish dance step, I was convinced that he was a perfect choice as I watched people hopping on one foot at his instruction. And when Alasdair left the stage to wander among the crowd, he transformed them from simply listening to the music to experiencing it!"
—Donovan Murray, Christmas in July Festival

"Alasdair placed himself squarely in the middle of the Festival and his efforts went far beyond what had been asked. {He} amazed even those of us who are long familiar with his particular brand of magic. We received numerous responses to our exit review that said simply, 'Bring back Alasdair!'"
—Douglas Beaton, Houston Highland Games Association

"Your music was greatly enjoyed by everyone, and your good humour and kindness were much appreciated. You have certainly helped to set very high standards."
—Dr. Ian Russell, North Atlantic Fiddle Convention, Aberdeen, Scotland

"We highly recommend Alasdair Fraser. He is a superb artist, undoubtedly the greatest Scottish fiddler in the world. He is also a delightful, funny, personable and highly skilled entertainer. You cannot go wrong in making Alasdair part of your event."
— Ray McDonald, Texas Scottish Festival Association

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