Mac Ìle: The Music of Fraser Shaw

In 2015 Fraser Shaw, multi-talented piper, whistle player and composer, sadly died at the young age of 34. Mac Ìle sees a number of his friends collaborate to celebrate his life and to support the Fraser Shaw Trust, a charity set up to raise money for the relief of multiple sclerosis. It's a testament to Shaw's life that so many of his friends have contributed to this inspiring project. There are too many to mention here, but they include Adam Sutherland, Innes Watson, Calum MacCrimmon, Laura-Beth Salter, Jenn Butterworth and Duncan Lyall.
It's a fine set of tunes, the majority written and composed by Fraser himself. ‘Trip to Glasgow’ is a sparkly little piece of humour; ‘Pipe Set’ mixes Shaw's tunes with Ross Martin's in a sweaty celebration of piping heritage (and the alcopop cocktail Turbo Shandy!). The closer, ‘The C-Side’, is named after Shaw's Glasgow flat, which was a hub for music and friendship; the tune perfectly captures the atmosphere and cooperation so characteristic of the man. There is sadness here of course, but there is also joy in the quality of tunes Shaw left behind and the sheer pleasure in musicians coming together to play for their friend. Beautiful.