The fateful meeting last year of two widely known Celtic performers produced a frenzy of creative inspiration resulting in a colorful, exciting, and completely unique approach to roots-based progressive acoustic string music.

The partnership began in a jam session in the wee-hours of the morning at the National Old Time Fiddle contest in Weiser, Idaho. Jamie and Ashley connected instantly on both musical and personal levels and have fueled each other’s creativity ever since.

Today, champion violinist/fiddler Jamie Laval and mandolin champion Ashley Broder form a stunning instrumental duo rendering traditional Irish, Scottish, and bluegrass music with hints of classical refinement and ethnic music from around the world. They tour full time throughout the U.S. and Scotland, performing at esteemed venues. Their mix of intense passion and tenderness together with coy, playful interaction creates rapt audiences every time they take the stage

Frankly, I've been waiting to feature "Eleanor Rigby" in a show since episode ten. The Beatles have gone beyond being just a band; they are a cultural force. Most of the talk in the press about "Eleanor Rigby" is about its themes of death, memory, and aging. By including this tune on the show, I wanted to put an emphasis on the string octet arrangement of this incredible tune.

www.jamielaval.com
www.ashleybroder.com