New Caledonian Four

In 1911, James Scott Skinner, one of the best and most prolific Scottish fiddlers and composers, toured with three other musicians as 'The Caledonian Four'. Now, almost a century later, we present 'The New Caledonian Four', some of the finest Scottish fiddler/ composers of our own times. John Turner is one of the leading exponents of traditional Scottish fiddle music of the 18th and 19th centuries, having played a major role in reviving interest in this music, over the last three decades. Born into a family of fiddlers, his traditional style was much influenced by some of Scotland's best known musicians, including his tutelage under and friendship with Hector MacAndrew. John has been featured on eighteen recordings, and contributed to more than eighty-five other recordings. He has performed throughout the U.S., Canada, the U.K., the Middle East, and Japan, where he was seen on television by a viewing audience estimated at more than 60 million people. He has performed throughout the U.S., Canada, the U.K., the Middle East, and Japan, where he was seen on television by a viewing audience estimated at more than 60 million people. He has performed for six U.S. presidents, members of Britain's royal family, and other world heads of state. John has composed many tunes and published two books of music. He founded and directs the twenty-five year old Jink and Diddle School of Scottish Fiddling, in the mountains of North Carolina, and performs regularly in Williamsburg, Virginia and across the U.S. John has inspired, tutored, coached and advised thousands of students who have come to love this tradition as he does. Among the most outstanding of these are the three fiddlers who appear with him on this recording, together on a recording for the first time. All are champion fiddlers, performers, and recording artists, and they make up the permanent faculty of the Jink and Diddle school of Scottish Fiddling. Colyn Fischer was U.S. National Scottish Fiddling Champion, Junior Division, in 1993, and Open Champion in 2005 and 2006. His new CD is called The Light of Day. David Gardner has studied and performed with Dr. Turner for more than 20 years, having recorded the album Smash the Windows with The Virginia Company, and also holds seven regional Scottish fiddling championships. Melinda Crawford is the 2003 U.S. National Scottish Fiddling Champion, and has a solo CD out, called The Wandering Suitcase of Stirling. All four fiddlers also compose their own tunes in the traditional Scottish style, several of which appear on this album. Also appearing as musicians on the album are Cliff Williams on guitar, Sarah Glosson on cello, and Daniel Perttu on keyboards.