photography by John Sikorski

Fraser Fifield - Composer and musician Fraser Fifield is a composer and producer, piper, low whistle player, and saxophonist with a background in traditional Scottish folk music. Fraser lives in East Lothian, near Edinburgh, Scotland. World class piper, soprano saxophonist, and low whistle player. One of Scotland's most talented and creative musicians, Fraser Fifield continues to push the boundaries of musical styles, both traditional and contemporary. On each of his three instruments, he has an individual voice, both innovative and respectful of tradition. On whistle, he is a distinctive improviser able to cross many genres while, at the root of all his playing, the Scottish and traditional style is omnipresent. The same is also true of his piping, on Highland, Border and Small pipes; free and musical piping, uncomplicated by competitive or military influences. On soprano and alto saxophones, he has a unique voice drawing sometimes from his roots in Scottish Traditional music. When not performing with his own trio or with Salsa Celtica he is usually in his studio at home working on television or library music. Recently released is his first solo recording, "Honest Water", on his own label, Tanar Records. Click here to visit Fraser Fifield's Web Site for more information!

The Honest Water project took place between June 2001 and April 2002 in Fraser's own studio, with occasional trips out to record guitarists Graeme Stephen and Malcolm Stitt. The resulting warm sound that unifies the album, flows through a range of instrumental compositions : from the strong traditional influences on 'Dark Reel', 'Velvet Jig' and 'Psalm' to the improvisational flair shown on 'Alone at Last' and 'Marjan's' to the rich soundscapes on 'Lament' and 'Softly Spoken'... Click here to listen to sound samples from Honest Water

"Fraser Fifield's debut album confirms that he is one of the most exciting talents to emerge in Scottish folk in recent times" - The Scotsman

"In this extraordinary album with its atmosphere of smoky jazz overlaid on the sharply-etched chiaroscuro of the Scottish psyche ...holds the attention from the initial urgent beat to the last dying chord." Scots Magazine

"a recording of beauty that deserves a far wider audience than it will attain in the folk market place" - Pete Fyfe, www.folking.com

"At once lyrical and radical, playful and soulful, talented and innovative - it’s music that places Fifield somewhere between Michael McGoldrick and Jan Garbarek". - Scotsman (live review)

"Fraser Fifield is a quite unique talent and can keep an audience spell-bound all evening" - BBC Celtic Roots (live review)

"music with heart, emotion, and tunes that the 'repeat play' button was designed for" - The Herald

"Fraser Fifield's debut album is simply beautiful" - The Irish World

"the quality of the playing, wide musical references, and intensity of focus make it much more Garbarek than Gaberlunzie" -Scotland on Sunday

"the album resoundingly endorses his fast- growing reputation as a brilliantly skilled and excitingly original talent. " - Sunday Herald

"his diverse influences and writing skills provide a broad canvas...a one-man Moving Hearts" - Inverness Courier

"a distinctive brand of jazz flavoured Celtic music with a real sense of purpose" - MOJO

"a swirling stream of highly original musical colour" - scotlandintune.com

"You may well find yourself bowled over by music about which it's impossible to be lukewarm! " paythereckoning.com

"a tremendous piece of work moving traditional music very swiftly into the 21st century" - An Drochaid

"sounds very much like a great band in full flight." - folkworld.de

"some very innovative arrangements; some great writing. Smoothly produced too." - SING OUT!

"blessed with the skill and imagination to let the music take him where it will, well beyond the confines of usual genres". - Dirty Linen

Click here to visit Fraser Fifield's Web Site for more information!