Lancement

Laura Risk : 2000 Miles

Traditional Scottish fiddling from Quebec - Violon trad ecossais du Quebec

Fiddler Laura Risk's new CD celebrates the passion and vitality of traditional Scottish fiddling... 2000 miles west of Scotland... in the province of Quebec!

Originally from California, Laura grew up in the thriving San Francisco Scottish fiddle scene, learning her craft from master fiddler Alasdair Fraser. Laura now lives in Montreal, Quebec, and 2000 Miles finds her joining forces with some of the province's hottest traditional and jazz musicians to create a richly-textured and exciting new sound. The repertoire, however, is pure Scottish: driving Highland reels, melancholy Gaelic airs, and passionate Northeast strathspeys, with a particular emphasis on tunes from the great Scottish collectors and composers of the 18th and 19th century: Patrick MacDonald, Simon Fraser, Angus Fraser, William Marshall, Keith Norman MacDonald, and Niel and Nathaniel Gow.

THE ARTISTS

Laura Risk : fiddle

Laura has performed and recorded with pianist Jacqueline Schwab, percussive dancer Sandy Silva, hammer dulcimer player Ken Kolodner, and American roots band Cordelia's Dad. She has appeared at the Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow and at many of North America's most prestigious acoustic music festivals, including Celtic Colours (Cape Breton), City Stages, and the Newport, Winnipeg, and Philadelphia Folk Festivals.

Eric Beaudry : guitar, voice

Currently a member of Quebec supergroup La Bottine Souriante, Eric also plays with Ni Sarpe Ni Branche and Norouet. Eric received the 2002 Centre Mnemo prize for his production of the CD Edouard Richard: Musique Gaspesienne.

Rachel Aucoin : piano

Rachel plays with the popular Quebec dance band Domino and is equally at home performing traditional Quebecois reels and jigs, contemporary classical music, and the Cape Breton tunes of her Acadian heritage.

Michel Donato : bass

Quebec's most celebrated jazz bassist, Michel has toured and recorded with Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans, and Karen Young.

Eric Breton : hand percussion

Eric has studied African, Maghreb, Brasilian, Haitian, and Cuban percussion styles and performs with a multitude of bands, including the trad-pop fusion sensation Perdu l'Nord.

TRACK LISTING

1. North Highland Reel #18/ North Highland Reel #21/Nine Pint Coggie/Sandy King 3:47

2. Fairly Shot of Her/The Lost Hat/Fairly Shot of Her/Snug in a Blanket 4:18

3. 'Smairg a chiurradh spiocaire (The Miser)/Miss Gordon of Glastirum's Reel 2:15

4. Mr. Abel Banks 2:43

5. The Bonnie House of Airly 3:32

6. Dubh an Tomaidh (The Dark Night of Tomie) 2:53

7. Tha buaidh air an uisge-bheath (The Efficacy of Whisky) 3:28

8. Master Francis Sitwell/Lady Ann Wharton Duff's/The Big Meeting 6:03

9. Skye Air/Another St. Kilda Song and Dance/The Dram Shell 3:25

10. My Kindly Sweetheart/The Glen Where the Deer Is/The Pipe Slang 4:11

11. Duncan Lamont 3:51

12. Tha toirm anns a' ghleann (The Sound of War from the Glen) 5:01

13. Mr. Martin's Compliments to Dr. Keith MacDonald/ Mrs. Gordon of Knockespoch 3:08

14. Tha m'aigue fo ghruaim (This Gloom on my Soul) 5:37

Total: 54:17

CD includes bilingual liner notes. Textes bilingues inclus.

All tunes public domain except The Lost Hat and The Big Meeting by Laura Risk, and Duncan Lamont by PM Donald MacLeod