Customer Reviews

Fire & Grace

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Combine the traditional sounds of 18th Century Scottish Dance music with the elegant drawing rooms of Edinburgh, and then layer on top funky 21st century rhythms of scrunchy bowed cello technique and you have some idea of the delights of this CD.

While the notated cello parts for traditional Scottish fiddle music from the 18th century would be at home in the chordal structure and counterpoint represented by Natalie's playing, she and Alasdair have taken the genre to a whole new level by adding driving rhythmic counterpoint which gives the album a distinctive 21st century sizzle.

In the Scottish heaven of Neil Gow and the cello players who accompanied him one can hope that they have CD players to delight in this CD as much as i do.

It is rare to find someone who is a master of their chosen instrument. Segovia and Rampal come to mind. Alasdair Fraser is of the same stature. Natalie Haas is also excellent on the cello, and together they have made what has become my favorite CD.

If there is a better fiddler, I don't know of him.

What an excellent pairing of master musicians! Fraser on fiddle is outstanding as usual. Haas on cello was new to me but I was very pleased to find how wonderfully these two instruments meshed together. I particularly love Josefin's Waltz. What a pleasure to see these two in concert shortly after I purchased this CD!

Sheer joy. Full of surprising, incredible harmonies. Alisdair has never been better. The pairing of fiddle and cello will take you on a fantastic journey.

I stumbled on Fraser & Haas performing in a small venue in Asheville, NC in October 2004. I was stuck first by Haas' Cello playing and a short time later by Faser's even greater talent. We recently saw the two again at The Barns of Wolf Trap in Vienna, VA. Another enjoyable evening of great talent and traditional music at one of the Mid Atlantic's most incredible intimate venues.

Buy the disc but make every effort to see them together live.

My wife and I recently saw Fraser and Haas perform in Olympia, WA as part of the Highland, Heath, and Holler Tour with Irish fiddler Martin Hayes and Appalachian fiddler Bruce Molsky. We bought the Fire and Grace CD at the concert. Our only problem with this recording is how addictive it is. We can't stop playing it. We play it at home. We play it in the car. We play it at work. And when we're not playing it, the 'chunes' (Alasdair's preferred pronunciation) run through our heads. This marriage of Scottish fiddle and Julliard-trained cello is exhilarating and revelatory. It's an amazing merger of Celtic and classical. We've never heard anything quite like it. Josefin's Waltz and Archibald MacDonald of Keppoch are the most achingly beautiful numbers. Sailor's Wife/Lads of Dun and Rob Roy Crosses The Minch best show how perfectly Fraser and Haas complement each other's styles. Every track on this CD is great.

I bought this CD expecting it to be good. I didn't expect it to be so mindblowing, though! Mr. Fraser's fiddle flies flawlessly through the tunes to the pounding, rumbling rhythm of Ms. Haas's cello. They could not have chosen a better title for their album. Whether you're a fan of fast-paced, foot-stomping music or slow, beautifully voiced music, you'll thoroughly enjoy Fire and Grace.

The opening track, "Calliope Meets Frank," starts the album off with a bang, and is one of my favourites of the CD. You'll find yourself drumming your fingers along in no time if you don't jump up and dance outright! I particularly love the second tune in this medley.
The end is just about as spectacular, with the explosive "High Reel". I find it hard to believe it's humanly possible to fiddle that fast!
In short, Fire and Grace is a top-rate album, with it's heart-pounding rhythms. You can't help turning up the volume! Definitely one of my favourite CDs in my collection.

For many of my Celtic music selections I have specific places where they play the best -- fitness center cardio workouts, crank-it-up singing in the car, hopping around the living room dancing, meditative slide into sleep. But this CD has become my soundtrack to joyful, graceful living. It goes with beer, but it's better with wine and chocolate. It can calm anxiety. It can give you energy. It will make you smile. It makes you want to bob your head around and enjoy sunshine on your face. Who would have thought that the cello could be so hot? And that cello and fiddle could be so well matched as in Fraser and Haas?

Such a lovely and inspiring recording! Now exciting, now poignant; do yourselves a big favor by not only buying the cd but by attending one of their performances. Grasp the experience! You'll never forget it.

This is what it sounds like when you're at the top of your game.
Great sound engineering, arranging, and playing combine in this award winning ensemble of instrumental traditional Celtic tunes.
The energy is palpable, as if the cello and fiddle are speaking English with a UK accent.