NATALIE MacMASTER
Blueprint (Rounder)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

---

Although she's doubtless the best known exponent of the Cape Breton school of Celtic fiddle, Natalie MacMaster still hasn't had the kind of commercial breakthrough outside Canada that her more fervent fans (a category that includes me) feel she deserves. Blueprint might be the release that makes it happen.

Rounder has certainly pulled out all the stops to see that it does. Bringing aboard Darol Anger to co-produced with MacMaster and lining up a supporting cast that includes Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, John Cowan and Bryan Sutton, among others, is certainly a vote of confidence, and once again, Natalie MacMaster proves it's a confidence well founded.

She not only holds her own in the company of some of the biggest names in acoustic music of any style, but does it in a way that gets the best out of each of her collaborators without ever sacrificing what is best in her - the rich Cape Breton heritage that she brings to every track, whether it's a traditional dance number or a completely modern masterpiece.

There are lots of names involved with this album. There's one that shines above all of them.

Natalie MacMaster. Fiddle. That's all you really need to know.

Track List:

A Blast * Appropriate Dipstick * Jig Party * Touch Of The Master's Hand * Eternal Friendship * Gravel Shore * Devil And The Dirk * The Ewe With The Crooked Horn * Johsefin's Waltz * Bela's Tune * Silver Spear * Minnie & Alex's Reel * My Love, Cape Breton And Me

© 2003 - Shaun Dale