Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas
 by Cliff Garber  ·  26 February 2007

What an energizing, exciting evening of spirited Celtic music presented by Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas!

As two people who enjoy traditional Celtic music and who have attended many concerts by Alasdair Fraser over the past twenty years, in New England and Nova Scotia, we were excited that he was going to perform at the me&thee coffeehouse.

In previous concerts we attended Alasdair was accompanied, usually by a guitar, piano or small orchestra. The Cello accompaniment, with Natalie Haas’ expertise and style of playing, seemed to raise the music to an entirely different level.

The two artists wove a fine thread of notes as the melody line was carried, first by one and then the other, in a cross over from one instrument to the other that was seamless in the transfer. The pulse of the beat was also transferred the same way, with the percussive sounds of the cello yielding to the less strident but striking syncopation of the violin. The result is an interspersed fusion of the traditional with contemporary rhythms.

The selection of music was also a fusion of traditional tunes from 17th and 18th century through to the present day. They varied in tempo from a lament to a jig and included at least one song that Alasdair had composed and one of Natalie’s compositions.

Alasdair’s easy humor and joviality is so genuine that his audience is relaxed and enthralled at the same time.

At the end of the second set as Alistair and Natalie left the stage, the audience stood to show their enthusiasm and appreciation for a great performance. Alistair returned to the stage and asked everyone to remain standing while he instructed us in Step Dancing 101. He urged everyone to step and move and then played several selections to keep us going.

We hope he returns to the me&thee very soon. Until then we’ll be watching his web site to see where we can see him again.

— Jean & Walt Rostron

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