Biography

Winner of the inaugural Neil Gow International Composition Award, Mike Vass is fast gaining a reputation as one of Scotland's foremost tunesmiths. His compositions frequently appear in the recordings and performances of some of the UK's top name acts; most notably luminaries such as Brian Finnegan, Corrina Hewat, and Mairearad Green.

Mike is regarded as one of Scotland’s finest fiddle players, in great demand as a performer, composer and teacher. He has toured extensively in the past few years with leading Scots Song band Malinky, in a duo with twin sister Ali, and with International super group Fiddle Rendezvous, featuring Bruce Molsky, Maryann Kennedy and Gerry O'Connor.

Mike’s New Voices Commission ‘String Theory’ debuted last year at Celtic Connections, and was described as 'the most direct and honest since the idea was first conceived … precision, subtlety and attention to detail'. One of the highlights, the avant-garde piece 'Man's Search' inspired by Viktor Frankl's best-selling book, was described as 'utterly compelling' and was subsequently featured by the Victor Frankl Institute in Austria to commemorate Frankl’s birthday.

Mike's band, String Theory are a force to be reckoned with: An impressive seven piece featuring some of Scotland's top young musicians including Anna Massie (Blazin Fiddles), Calum MacCrimmon (Breabach, Unusual Suspects) and Megan Henderson (Salsa Celtica big band). The breadth of talent is magnificently showcased in high octane arrangements which are deftly handled and sympathetically orchestrated in an invigorating and lively performance.

Mike was nominated as 'Best Up and Coming Act' in the 2007 Scots Trad Music Awards, along with pianist/singer twin sister Ali, and as 'Best Folk Band' with Malinky in 2009. A runner-up in the 2007 BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year competition, Mike was subsequently invited to tour with the 2008 finalists as an accompanist. Although barely 5 years into his career, Mike has already featured on more than a dozen recordings, including Volume 1 of The Complete Songs of Robert Tannahill, produced by Dr Fred Freeman, and Malinky's acclaimed fourth album Flower and Iron.

Mike and Ali Vass

Mike Vass is extolling the virtues of playing in a duo with his twin sister, Ali. With just a fiddle and a keyboard involved, transportation is no problem. They've been making music together "forever," so they have a good understanding.

And the downside? "Well, Ali likes to be right all the time and she's just that little bit older, so she pulls rank. Often," says Mike in a tone of mock long suffering. "But the main thing is, I really enjoy playing with her."

Those who have caught the Vass twins live will have concluded that the feeling is mutual. There's a spark between the pair, a sense of one encouraging the other, driving each other to creative heights and revelling in the music they make, that communicates strongly to an audience.

Read more...
http://www.hi-arts.co.uk/mar06_feature_mike_ali_vass.html

Contact: http://www.myspace.com/vasstwins

Fiddle Rendezvous

Major talents from five vibrant traditions meet in Fiddle Rendezvous. Three fiddle players with contrasting styles, together with their musical partners, showcasing their individual and distinctive styles and collaborating in unique and original combinations. Hear these musicians with major reputations share a stage.

American fiddler, guitarist and banjo player Bruce Molsky and Gaelic singer and harper Mary Ann Kennedy continue their fascinating discovery of transatlantic common ground; leading Irish fiddler Gerry O'Connor and Breton guitarist Giles le Bigot showcase the super-skilled interplay of two exceptional musicians from highly compatible backgrounds...and the Vass twins, fiddler Mike and pianist Ali, apply sibling closeness on an exciting and sensitive romp through the airs and dance metres of the Scottish repertoire.

String Theory

A current favourite among scientists in search of an all- encompassing hypothesis is super string theory, according to which elementary particles are likened to the notes sounded by a violin string under varying tension. Acclaimed young fiddler Mike Vass co-opts this concept with poetic licence for his New Voices premiere, which seeks to unite the disparate elements of his own creative universe in cahoots with some of his favourite musicians. Within a seven-piece line-up including his pianist sister Ali, piper Calum MacCrimmon and multi-instrumentalist Anna Massie – with everyone also enlisted on vocals – each individual’s response to Vass’s written parts will feed integrally into the performance.

The String theory project is an ideal festival band sound and is available for shows throughout 2010/2011

please conact info@mikevass.com for more information, and to hear some sound samples

Contact: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/string-theory/id416694806

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