Laura Risk
Encyclopedia
Laura Risk is an acclaimed California
-born violin
ist. She specializes in performing and teaching the diverse fiddle
repertoire of Scotland
and Quebec
.
Laura performs both solo and in collaboration with such artists as Sandy Silva, Ken Kolodner, and Paddy League. She has been part of the band Cordelia's Dad
.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
-born violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist. She specializes in performing and teaching the diverse fiddle
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
repertoire of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
.
Laura performs both solo and in collaboration with such artists as Sandy Silva, Ken Kolodner, and Paddy League. She has been part of the band Cordelia's Dad
Cordelia's Dad
Cordelia's Dad is a band from Northampton, Massachusetts that combines folk and punk rock influences and was instrumental in the creation of the genre later to be dubbed "No Depression". The band formed in 1987 and was active until 1998, when the members relocated to different parts of the country...
.
Solo recordings
- Two Thousand Miles (RISK0401) with Eric Beaudry (guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and voiceVoiceVoice may refer to:* Human voice* Voice control or voice activation* Writer's voice* Voice acting* Voice vote* Voice message-In film:* Voice , a 2005 South Korean film* The Voice , a 2010 Turkish horror film directed by Ümit Ünal...
), Rachel Aucoin (pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
), Michel Donato (bassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
), Eric Breton (percussion) - The Merry Making (Dorian 90282) with Susie Petrov (piano), Dennis Cahill (guitar), Christopher Layer (flutes, whistleWhistleA whistle or call is a simple aerophone, an instrument which produces sound from a stream of forced air. It may be mouth-operated, or powered by air pressure, steam, or other means...
and bagpipesBagpipesBagpipes are a class of musical instrument, aerophones, using enclosed reeds fed from a constant reservoir of air in the form of a bag. Though the Scottish Great Highland Bagpipe and Irish uilleann pipes have the greatest international visibility, bagpipes of many different types come from...
), Brian Melick (percussion) - Celtic Dialogue (Dorian 90264) with Jacqueline Schwab (piano) (Top 10 CDs of 1999—The Boston Globe)
In collaboration with Ken Kolodner
- A Roof for the Rain (Dorian 90295) with Keith Murphy (guitar) and Joseph Sobol (guitar and cittern)
- Greenfire (Dorian 90265) with Robin Bullock (guitar, piano, cittern)
- Walking Stones (Dorian 90248) with Robin Bullock (guitar, piano, cittern) (Top 15 Bestsellers—BMG Record Club) (Allegro Corporation's #1 World Music Title)
With other bands
- Journey Begun, Laura Risk and Athena Tergis (Culburnie 105) with Steve Baughman (guitar), Peter Maund (percussion), Pat Klobas (bass); produced by Alasdair FraserAlasdair FraserAlasdair Fraser is a Scottish fiddler.Fraser operates Culburnie Records, and is a leading artist on the label. He has founded three summer fiddling programs: the fiddle camp in California , a week-long course on the Isle of Skye and the more recent in California...
- Spine, Cordelia's Dad (Appleseed 1023) with Tim Eriksen (vocals, guitar), Cath Oss (vocals, lap dulcimer and accordion) Peter Irvine (vocals and percussion); produced by Steve AlbiniSteve AlbiniSteven Frank Albini is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, audio engineer and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman, and Flour, and is currently a member of Shellac...
- Host of the Air: Contemporary Music for Scottish Country Dancing with Susie Petrov (accordionAccordionThe accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
), James Gray (piano)
Recordings produced by Laura Risk
- Some Melodious Sonnet, Hanneke CasselHanneke CasselHanneke Cassel is a folk violinist. She was born in Oregon and graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance at Berklee College of Music in 2000. Hanneke is the 1997 U.S...
(Cassel Records 2004) - My JoyMy JoyMy Joy is a 2010 Ukrainian road movie directed by Sergei Loznitsa. It is set in the western regions of Russia, somewhere near to Smolensk. My Joy was the first Ukrainian film ever to compete for the Palme d'Or.-Cast:* Viktor Nemets as Georgy...
, Hanneke Cassel (Cassel Records 2001)
Guest appearances
- Petit Fou, Matapat (Borealis 113)
- The Honey on the Mountain, Rob Laurens (Attic Light 339-002)
- My JoyMy JoyMy Joy is a 2010 Ukrainian road movie directed by Sergei Loznitsa. It is set in the western regions of Russia, somewhere near to Smolensk. My Joy was the first Ukrainian film ever to compete for the Palme d'Or.-Cast:* Viktor Nemets as Georgy...
, Hanneke Cassel (Cassel Records 2001) - Different Game, Lissa Schneckenberger (Footprint Records)
Compilations
- The Road from Erin: Ireland's Musical Legacy, (Dorian 90021) various artists
- Commuter Classics: Drive Time A.M. (Dorian 90018) various artists
- Visions of BachBạchBạch is a Vietnamese surname. The name is transliterated as Bai in Chinese and Baek, in Korean.Bach is the anglicized variation of the surname Bạch.-Notable people with the surname Bạch:* Bạch Liêu...
: Transcriptions and arrangements inspired by Bach (Dorian 90016), various artists - ChristmasChristmasChristmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
Gift (Dorian 90321), various artists
Books
- Fiddler Magazine's Favorites: Tunes from and Interviews with 36 of the World's Greatest Fiddlers (book and CD set), various artists