Fred Morrison - Outlands: Bagpipes and bluegrass might seem unlikely musical bedfellows, but for the brilliant Scottish piper Fred Morrison, one of Celtic music’s most profoundly skilled and audaciously inventive exponents, they form a wholly natural alliance. His latest album project, Outlands, featuring such top Americana luminaries as producer Gary Paczosa (Dolly Parton, Dixie Chicks, Nickel Creek), banjo/guitar ace Ron Block (Alison Krauss & Union Station) and Grammy-winning multi-instrumentalist Tim O’Brien, sets out to explore the inherent connections Morrison perceives between their traditions and his.
Media Reviews
Mindblowingly good
First impressions are of a rich and complex album full of great tunes. The traditional/bluegrass crossover works really well - a fusion of styles rather than simply the two in parallel. The playing is mindblowingly good - you not only have the world's best piper, but also other major stars like Ron Block (banjo player with Alison Krauss). The production is also fantastic - a big, wide, spacious sound.