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Celtic
Connections 2009
Sat 17th Jan : Fraser Fifield : Stereocanto feat. Graeme Stephen
and Alyn Cosker. Classic Gand, Jamaica St. Glasgow 8pm
Scotland
On Sunday 09/11/08
Traces Of Thrace ****
"Scottish musician Fifield went east for inspiration for this
fascinating album – arranged for his low whistles, soprano
sax and bellows pipes with the kaval (the ancient Balkan end-blown
shepherd's flute) of virtuosos Nedyalko Nedyalkov and Georgi Petrov
on the fiddle-like Bulgarian gadulka, plus percussion and jazz guitar.
Expressively played, full of subtle interplay between all the musicians,
and alive with fluent rhythms and surprising harmony, this is a
truly successful melding of traditions and innovation".
Songlines Magazine, Traces Of Thrace Review, Sept 08
"Scots meet Bulgarians and magic happens....... ****
From the opening notes of this remarkable CD - a collaboration
of musicians from the Western and Eastern extremes of Europe, the
British Isles and Bulgaria - it is clear that an unusual and startling
imagination is at work. Above an intricate, sweetly toned canonic
ostinato, played on rural-sounding flutes, the sounds of the gadulka
folk fiddle weave a melody reflecting the rhythms of speech. In
the background,a guitar pensively wanders upwards and downwards,
constantly revisiting the same few notes. The sound of the overlapping
five-note scales begins to shimmer and dissolve, like the chiming
of bells. There is a sudden halt, and the mood darkens, as the entire
band hurl themselves into a unison melody over a dry and sinewy
groove on drum kit. It's a haunting sound, serene yet vital, and
quite unlike anything else you might have heard.
Fifield, the bandleader, plays the low whistle, highland pipes,
and soprano saxophone, and he and his band are joined by Georgi
Petrov on gadulka and Nedyalko Nedyalkov on the kaval, the liquid
sounding rim-blown flute. The pentatonicism that pervades the entire
album and draws it together allows the music to occupy an unmapped
border country, drawing on but undefined by the Celtic and Bulgarian
traditions of the musicians themselves - enriched and at the same
time destabilised by intimations of the gamelan, Delta blues, Malian
string bands, and the British pastoral jazz traditions of such performers
as John Surman. Played by musicians at the top of their game, the
compositions sound natural, and almost organic, but closer listening
reveals that they are tightly organised and highly sophisticated.
A magnificent achievement "
Scotsman
Review 27/06/08 'Traces Of Thrace'
"SAXOPHONIST and piper Fraser Fifield has always taken an
open-minded approach to his music, rooted in folk but strongly influenced
by jazz improvisation. This compelling recording combines two of
his regular collaborators, jazz guitarist Graeme Stephen and percussionist
Guy Nicolson, with two Bulgarian musicians, Nedyalko Nedyalkov on
kaval (a traditional wooden flute) and Georgi Petrov on gadulka
(a string instrument). The contrasting timbre and sonority of the
wind and string pairings is combined with an imaginative manipulation
of instrumental colour and musical texture, all underpinned by Nicolson's
supportive percussion. The results go beyond an exercise in cross-cultural
referencing, and produce a genuine, fascinating meeting of musical
minds." KENNY MATHIESON
Tune in to Mary
Ann Kennedy's Global Gathering BBC Radio Scotland on Tues 17th
June to hear chat/tracks from my new album Traces Of Thrace and
also some choice tunes from various artists which are currently
doing it for me...
'Traces Of Thrace' enters World
Music Charts Europe for June 2008 at number 19.
It was a real pleasure touring Scotland in Feb/March 2008 as part
of the Scottish Arts Council's Tune-Up series, a great opportunity
to play with some fantastic musicians: Nedyal, Tima, Georgi and
Angel. Thanks to all who came along to the gigs and helped make
it such a success.
Time
To Blow His Own Kaval (The Herald) (25/02/08)
Review, Hi-Arts 02/03/08 : IAN
STEPHEN finds the diverse musical combinations are gelling in this
Tune Up tour ....
At the end of last year Kerry (who teaches at Kirkland) and I set
up a series of workshops with students from Kirkland High School
in Methil, Fife. As the workshops progressed, the group formed an
8 piece band calling themselve 'Beltane' which included 2 vocalists,
bass and electric guitar, piano, pipes, drums and sax. Playing covers
of songs by the likes of the Killers and Red Hot Chilli Peppers
with additional parts for ace young bagpiper Paul Brown (S2) proved
to be a real winner. Performing at a recent concert they impressed
visiting staff and pupils from the Plockton School of Excellence
sufficiently to be invited up to the school in Plockton to make
use of their facilities to perform and record. A great achievement
for Beltane and for the school !
Look out for the forthcoming TV series 'Croit' - which is Gaelic
for Croft - made by Mac TV based in Stornoway. I wrote music for
the 12 programmes which follow the lives of five crofting families
in the Highlands of Scotland. The early footage I saw looked beautiful.
Recently completed original music for a short film directed by
Mary-Lou Aitchison for the Forestry Commission. The film is to be
shown in the visitor centre at Glenmore Forest Park Visitor Centre.
Following last year's concert at the Hebridean Festival, Calum-Alex
MacMillan and I have recorded our version of Murdo MacFarlane's
'Tobair Tobair Sìolaidh' for inclusion on the forthcoming
CD. The CD will feature songs by or inspired by Murdo MacFarlane
performed by a diverse array of musical talent.
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