The fateful meeting last year of two widely known Celtic performers produced a frenzy of creative inspiration resulting in a colorful, exciting, and completely unique approach to roots-based progressive acoustic string music.
The partnership began in a jam session in the wee-hours of the morning at the National Old Time Fiddle contest in Weiser, Idaho. Jamie and Ashley connected instantly on both musical and personal levels and have fueled each other’s creativity ever since.
Today, champion violinist/fiddler Jamie Laval and mandolin champion Ashley Broder form a stunning instrumental duo rendering traditional Irish, Scottish, and Bluegrass music with hints of classical refinement and ethnic music from around the world. They tour full time throughout the U.S. and Scotland, performing at esteemed venues such as The Freight & Salvage Coffee House in Berkeley, California. Their mix of intense passion and tenderness together with coy, playful interaction creates rapt audiences every time they take the stage.Prior to their meeting, Jamie simultaneously pursued careers as a revered solo fiddler and a professional symphony violinist. Subsequent to his winning the U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Championship in 2002, he devoted himself entirely to touring throughout the States and Scotland and appeared regularly on National Public Radio (NPR), concert series, and large festival stages.
Meanwhile, Ashley had competed regularly in fiddle contests, ultimately winning the Western Open Picking Championship in 2003 and 2004. She went on to collaborate with world renowned mandolinist Mike Marshall on his method books, taught at the Mandolin Symposium in California, and played in a number of Los Angeles area bands while studying classical violin and ’cello in college.
The San Diego Tribune recently featured the new duo in a full-page spread, calling Ashley a “mandolin phenomenon.” Mr. Marshall refers to Ashley as “A rising star in the world of traditional and alternative music who is as comfortable playing in formal musical settings as in spontaneous jam sessions.”
Following his 28-concert tour of Scotland, Jamie was heralded as “A new star for the Old World” (FiddleOn Magazine) and “The next Alasdair Fraser” (Scotland Press and Post). In the U.S., Jamie is said to be “One North America’s finest practitioners of traditional Scottish music” (San Jose Mercury News) and “A fantastic fiddler…Laval captures the essence of Celtic sentiment and yearning” (Olympian Weekender).
They will perform May 19 with concert presented by Stephen Stiebel in Durham, North Carolina at 8:00 PM. Reservations suggested: 919-732-9612
For more information about the artists visit: www.JamieLaval.com and www.AshleyBroder.com.
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