Phipps Hall, Beauly, 19 October 2007

Blazin' in Beauly (photo - Jennie Macfie).

FOR A good few years Blazin’ Fiddles, introduced by manager Gordon Webber as “the best fiddle band in Scotland” (and who’s going to argue with that?), have organised a week long programme of classes, sessions, concerts and the all important craic every October in the pretty market town of Beauly.

Through this the band play a crucial role in nurturing the triumphant renaissance of traditional Scottish music, passing on their skills and communicating their passion. Since 2003 the programme has expanded from focusing on Highlands and Islands styles of fiddle music to include guest tutors on other instruments.

People come from all over the world to teach and to learn, and the week culminates in a concert at Beauly’s Phipps Hall which is always a hot ticket; this year was no exception. The Hall was packed for the opening piece, played by an ensemble comprising all the pupils and most of the tutors, filling the stage and spilling over into the hall itself.

Conducted and devised by Geordie trombonist and now honorary Sgianathach and Unusual Suspect Rick Taylor, the Group Work was as huge as the ensemble, using traditional music as take off point for an atmospheric, epic cinema soundtrack. In his introduction, Gordon Webber said that everyone had fallen in love with Rick that week, and within a few bars the audience had succumbed as well.

Composer, orchestrator and arranger to Elton John, Wet Wet Wet and the Blazer’s own project With Strings Attached [not to mention a distinguished jazz career as trombonist, composer and arranger – Ed.], Rick Taylor is phenomenal. “He’s a shaman,” explained Andy Thorburn afterwards, and it’s true; when Rick turned round and mouthed “Sing” to the audience, they did. Not something you see every day.

There was a brief pause allowing us to collect our composure and buy the all-important raffle tickets – top prize a week’s tuition at next year’s event. A rapturous reception greeted Blazin’ Fiddles as they walked on stage and launched straight into some numbers from their new live CD to be launched at Eden Court next month.

‘Forgeron’, ‘I Laid a Herring in Salt’, and ‘Lost in Fishponds’ were a dazzling display of musical aerobatics, all the players synchronised effortlessly to perfection, so much masters of their art that in the middle of complexity they still have time to smile at each other.

Guest tutors Mairi Rankin from Cape Breton, whose red hair proclaimed her Highland heritage, and the enchantingly irrepressible Bridget Law from Colorado showed off their remarkable transatlantic fiddle styles. Then the Blazers returned to complete their set with ‘Colonel Thornton’ (solo strathspeys), ‘Smirisary’ (a slow air written by Allan MacDonald), ‘Highland Plaid’ and ‘Shepherd’s Dream’.

They were, as Bruce MacGregor explained, in a bit of a hurry as Allan Henderson was off to play another gig afterwards (so that’s why he was dolled up to the nines in full Highland dress), but they made time for an encore.

Drummers rarely sit in the limelight but think for a minute – where would we be without James Mackintosh? Imagine Shooglenifty without his beats and textures, erase them from most of your favourite CDs – no, it’s too awful a scenario to contemplate.

He and graceful fellow tutor Christine Hanson, who added the warmth of her glorious cello, were the final catalysts for the mix – Blazin’ Fiddles burned even brighter as ‘Skylark Ascension’ soared to incandescent heights.

© Jennie Macfie, 2007

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• Blazin’ in Beauly