Meet the Artists

Welcome to the green and rolling pastures of the “Old Country”. I often reflect on the diversity of cultures that we have here in the “New World” (North America in our case!), with people and languages and food and, of course, music. It’s a beautiful thing to experience the legacy of another culture – or to explore your own. Having Celtic blood in me (both Scottish & Irish), I felt something stir inside at a very young age when I heard the sound of the pipes. “That’s for me,” I told my parents when I was about age five...and so it’s been ever since. For myself, music is a blessing – not only playing it but also giving it to others.

Creating this recording was nothing short of the above. On one level we indulged in the music of my ancestors, playing Irish jigs and reels at breakneck speed with fiddle, accordion and guitar while merging this with drums and percussion rhythms from other parts of the world. I also had the fortune of walking down memory lane by recreating some of my favorite themes from the soundtrack Braveheart . Most rewarding was the pleasure of working with such wonderful musicians through every step of the process. I have always desired to arrange in a Celtic light some of the classic songs and melodies like “Scarborough Faire” and “My Favorite Things and these musicians brought my vision to reality. A special thanks from me to Steve Hall and guitarist Mike Hoffmann. So whether this recording brings back old memories or takes you down a new path, sit back and let us whisk you away to a place where the land is greener than green, the air is cool and fresh, the people are warm and friendly, and the music has always come from the heart.
Eric Rigler
www.badhaggis.com