Recorded in December 2007 this is the new album by Fraser Fifield Band with special guests Nedyalko Nedyalkov, kaval, and Georgi Petrov, gadulka. Nedyalkov plays the kaval, a most versatile yet ancient instrument. Traditionally a shepherds instrument, in Nedyalkov's hands it produces a huge variety of sounds. The blend of Soprano Sax, Bagpipes, Kaval (a type of end-blown flute) and Petrov's Gadulka (like a fiddle but much older, as Georgi says), produce an international marriage of sound the like of which is completely new. Nine tracks of original Fifield compositions bring together the six musicians, coming from Traditional Scottish, Jazz, Latin and Traditional Bulgarian backgrounds. This album has featured in the European World Music Charts.
Fraser Fifield: Soprano Sax, Low Whistle, Highland Pipes, Keyboards, Percussion Nedyalko Nedyalkov: Kaval Georgi Petrov: Gadulka Graeme Stephen: Guitar David Robertson: Percussion Guy Nicolson: Percussion
Media Reviews
A genuine, fascinating meeting of musical minds
Saxophonist and piper Fraser Fifield has always taken an open-minded approach to his music, rooted in folk but strongly influenced by jazz improvisation. This compelling recording combines two of his regular collaborators, jazz guitarist Graeme Stephen and percussionist Guy Nicolson, with two Bulgarian musicians, Nedyalko Nedyalkov on kaval (a traditional wooden flute) and Georgi Petrov on gadulka (a string instrument).... The results go beyond an exercise in cross-cultural referencing, and produce a genuine, fascinating meeting of musical minds...Kenny Mathieson.. www.scotsman.com
a truly successful melding of traditions and innovation
Scottish musician Fifield went east for inspiration for this fascinating album – arranged for his low whistles, soprano sax and bellows pipes with the kaval (the ancient Balkan end-blown shepherd's flute) of virtuosos Nedyalko Nedyalkov and Georgi Petrov on the fiddle-like Bulgarian gadulka, plus percussion and jazz guitar. Expressively played, full of subtle interplay between all the musicians, and alive with fluent rhythms and surprising harmony, this is a truly successful melding of traditions and innovation.
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