2003-12-13 ::
Natalie MacMaster Steps Out of the Norm
 
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As if her talent is not enough to impress any listener, Celtic fiddling virtuoso Natalie MacMaster has brought together some of the world’s best bluegrass musicians for her sixth album, Blueprint.

In preparation of her latest CD, her first studio effort in four years, MacMaster and Nashville producer Darol Anger searched for the best acoustic musicians and wound up with some of the world’s top bluegrass pickers – dobro talent Jerry Douglas, mandolin great Sam Bush and banjo star Bela Fleck. The bluegrass inclusion is not far removed from MacMaster’s Celtic stylings, having been influenced as a child with bluegrass and Irish music.

A native of Canada’s Cape Breton Island, which is known for its blend of Celtic and bluegrass, 31-year-old MacMaster has been playing the fiddle since she was nine. The niece of famed Cape Breton fiddler Buddy MacMaster, Natalie has evolved as a young star winning several East Coast Music Awards for her traditional Cape Breton music. She has earned two Juno Awards, been nominated for a Grammy and shared the performance stage with international superstars such as Carlos Santana, Paul Simon and Luciano Pavarotti. Her music has evolved to incorporate other genres including jazz and Latin music.

One thing she will never do is fall into the trap of recording and playing only to achieve commercial success. She will never achieve mainstream fame because she plays the ancient fiddle tunes that are nearest and dearest to her heart. Considered one of the world’s greatest fiddlers, MacMaster would not have it any other way.

Natalie’s touring band is Brad Davidge (guitar), John Chiasson (bass), Allan Dewar (piano), Matt MacIsaac (bagpipes) and Miche Pouliot (drums).

Our Thoughts

This new album represents a lot of firsts for the fiddler – finally an album is released that truly represents its title.