About Norman Mackay

Norman Mackay from Cawdor village in the East Highlands of Scotland has been playing the 3 row diatonic accordion since early childhood. Steeped in the Scottish tradition, he has button accordionists and fiddlers on both sides of his family. His debut album 'The Perfect Squeeze' features eight original compositions and performances by some of Scotland’s finest musicians including Ross Kennedy: guitar, bouzouki & production, Donald Shaw: piano, Ruairidh Macmillan: fiddle, Sonia Cromarty: cello, Greg Lawson & Phil Alexander of Moishes Bagel on violin/mandolin & piano, & pipe organist William Pickvance. The 13 tracks cover a wide variety of styles and flavours, each branded with his own distinctive stamp.

Up and comming gigs include a couple of shows in Northern Ireland with Fergie MacDonald & Allan Henderson, a tour of the outer Hebrides with Fergie later in the summer (dates to be confirmed) as well as gigs both in Scotland and abroad with his ceilidh band 'The Ceilidh Experience'

Reviews

'A prodigious talent, this button box player from Cawdor has become well known in Edinburgh and beyond. Brash and eclectic, Norman's playing combines the drive of Scottish accordion music with the flow and variations of the continental style. The Perfect Squeeze starts with the monster Klezmer jig The Montreal Fiddler, all semitones and swirling rhythms, helped by a couple of friends from the band Moishe's Bagel. Two top-speed twisted reels follow, as Rod Paul tries to keep up on banjo, and so far this debut CD is 100% Norman's own compositions. Lord Haddow's Favourite slows the pace, straight off an early Battlefield LP, paired with the march Mr MacFarlane, which is another Mackay original. The Leaving of Paris is mainstream continental accordion music, stunningly played. It's track 5 before we really hear the standard Scottish repertoire on Kenny Gillies. Then Norman's off again into Norwegian airs, Gordon Duncan showpieces, a Cunningham-style slow number and a twang-filled barndance, before a set of reels and a Skinner air bring us to another continental showpiece in Valerie's Waltz. Twelve tracks of very varied music: the final down-tempo organ arrangement of The Montreal Fiddler is pure over-indulgence.

The Perfect Squeeze is a fifty-minute roller-coaster ride, never dull and certainly not predictable. Norman includes eight of his own distinctive melodies, including one dedicated to his fiddler friend Carrie Thomas. One of Carrie's compositions is also featured here, as are tunes by Donald Shaw, J-P Cormier and Allan Henderson. There's a bit of percussion, quite a lot of fiddle, and a few other touches, but it's really all about the box. This is an album for serious accordion enthusiasts, and for those who like their music served hot and rich with plenty of gravy. There's a bit of everything, not unlike a good curry, and occasionally some of it slides off the plate. If you're looking for full flavour and you don't mind the occasional splatter, this could be the perfect CD for you. It's not something you'd manage every day, though. Give it a whirl at www.normanmackay.com and see how much you can keep down.' - Alex Monaghan (The Living Tradition)

'Classy debut album from button accordionist/composer, features tunes from Scotland, Norway, France and Canada, with sumptuously varied accompaniment on cello, violins, piano, bouzouki, mandolin, guitar and pipe organ. A-list support includes Donald Shaw, Greg Lawson and Phil Alexander.' - Froots review: issue 298 - Norman Mackay The Perfect Squeeze

'This formidable button accordionist from Nairnshire has energy, talent and musical depth to spare as these dozen cuts attest. Hugely fun and boasting a rare freshness.' - Musicians Union, Spring 2008

'When you listen to this cd you will be astounded to know that it is Norman Mackay's debut recording and what an impressive album it is.' - Box & Fiddle April 2008