Recordings
For sound samples and purchasing, click on each CD title below.
"Experienced U.S. multi-instrumentalist steps out with a pair of releases.... Wielding an array of whistles, pipes and concertina, she balances prodigious abilities with a maturity and overall expertise.... Extremely worthwhile." - fROOTS
"MacKenzie maintains the magic. Her lovely soprano shines...and her piping, both Scottish smallpipes and the little heard French cornemuse, is deft. Taken together these recordings are a delight, and bring a remarkable musician to a wider audience." - Sing Out!
"On both discs the sound is crisp and the arrangements bright, and the versatile MacKenzie plays everything with grace and skill." - Dirty Linen
"The sheer polish in her playing on these two recordings is very impressive....Laura and the Lads is the more lively while Evidence is the more lovely." -Green Man Review
Laura and the Lads
Laura and The Lads is a collection of upbeat music showcasing Laura's well known skills on the various pipes, flutes and whistles she has in her arsenal, rounded off by concertina and her lovely singing voice. Laura is backed on this recording by the "Lads", featuring Brian Miller (guitar), Django Amerson (fiddle), Michael Bissonnette (percussion), Sean Egan (clarinet) and John Wright (bass). Lively artwork from famous illustrator and New Yorker cartoonist John O'Brien boosts the music's spirited message.
Evidence
Evidence is a collection of songs, airs and waltzes from many different sources (Irish, Scots Gaelic, French, English, and from Daithi Sproule and Laura herself), all in a musical mood both calm and bright. The album features guest appearances from Daithi Sproule (Altan - guitar and vocals), Dean Magraw (guitar) and harpist Andrea Stern, as well as Brian Miller (guitar), Sean Egan (clarinet), Dick Rees (accordions) and John Wright (bass). Evidence is a stunningly beautiful effort from this veteran of Celtic music.
Willow Brae-Collected
Harpist Andrea Stern and wind player Laura MacKenzie present traditional Irish and Scottish music featuring Celtic harp, wooden flutes, pipes, whistle and voice. One reviewer praised Willow Brae as "a rich spectrum of sound ranging from radiant to reflective."
Piper's Crow
A Celtic band steeped in tradition yet daringly original, Piper's Crow presents top-notch instrumental and vocal prowess and an array of instruments including flutes, bagpipes, fiddle, guitar and autoharp.
Laura MacKenzie Sampler
A selection of recordings from numerous projects combining MacKenzie's instruments and voice with the artistry of many fine colleagues on guitar, harp, fiddle and percussion.