Dynamic, exhilarating, insightful. ***** THE SCOTSMAN A special, unique launch as befits a special, unique album. Prepare to be bewitched. THE IRISH WORLD

Cairngorm is the Debut Album by Mhairi Hall Trio

Capturing Scotland’s music, energy and

emotion on the piano

It’s not often that the boundaries of a genre and of an instrument are pushed so far in one record but, with her highly acclaimed debut album Cairngorm which, was launched on a grand piano at the top of Cairngorm mountain, pianist Mhairi Hall has done just that. The intrinsic link between the music and the area’s landscape is beautifully expressed to make an album that seems to transcend music and become a body of work with a soul. With legendary world music producer Dónal Lunny on production duties, a man himself at the forefront of traditional Gaelic folk music for more than 30 years, the trio retreated to Crear in Argyll, which houses one of the finest Steinway pianos in the country. The surroundings breathed life into the record and are widely responsible for its rich sounding emotionally beauty. The trio, consisting of three of Scotland’s most exceptional musicians, is fronted by Mhairi, who was raised in Aviemore which overlooks the Cairngorm Mountains. Her virtuosic piano playing is complimented by Fraser Stone on drum kit and percussion and Michael Bryan on guitar. Both traditional material and tracks composed by Mhairi make up Cairngorm, as she explained, “It was very important for us to try and capture a sense of the area through our music. Many of the melodies are hundreds of years old, and were written for places that lie unchanged today or old legends and people. We hope that we have created a sound which is respectful of the history yet exciting and fresh.” The Cairngorms National Park Authority has contributed towards the making of this historic album. For further information please visit:

www.mhairihall.com