Man With the Wooden Flute

"A musician like Chris Norman comes along, oh, perhaps once in a century. He's the kind of player whose virtuosity serves the music without becoming the performance itself; whose exceptional technique not only is of the "he's so good he makes it sound easy" variety, but also frees the music to reel out as if it, the instrument, and the player were one communicative entity. " -- CD Review ". . .Norman stands out for his spirited eclecticism . . . His rootsy heritage shines through in every nuanced embellishment, trill, triple tonguing, and silky slide. It's clear that Norman is having a ball, with the chops to make it sound effortless." -- Billboard Magazine " . . .a flute player of spectacular & imaginative virtuosity" -- The New Yorker Magazine "A flute superstar . . .the musicianship just came wailing out" --Toronto Globe & Mail "The finest wooden flute player in the world . . .and few that have heard him play would dispute that description." -- Halifax Mail Star " . . .The Chris Norman Ensemble wondrously demonstrated that classical and folk need not necessarily be separate entities at all. They can intertwine to enchanting effect . . .Norman's agility with his wooden flutes was exceptional, as was his way of conveying the expressive heart of each piece. He has formed a marvelous ensemble of like-minded musicians." -- Cleveland Plain Dealer " . . .one of music's most talented performers. Norman is certainly a special musician. In solos or accompaniments, Norman brilliantly spun out delicate phrase after phrase, bridging the centuries-wide gap to make the music ours. . . With whoops more reminiscent of a pop concert, it could have set purists on their collective ears were it not for the fact that these guys [The Chris Norman Ensemble] could do it all . . . it was charmin' Norman's night, whether hovering expertly between several flutes or pumping the bellows of the Scottish small pipes. He is a star in this Celtic crossover firmament, titillating with triple-tonguing and then turning around to caress a folk melody as if it were the best of Mozart." -- Pittsburgh Post Gazette "I was recently heard to remark that it would be wonderful to feel as at home with anything as Chris Norman seems to be with his flutes, and this CD is further evidence if any were needed of the exceptional talent and musicality he possesses. His playing of this repertoire is never less than utterly convincing . . .musical characters such as Chris Norman are rare in any generation . . ." -- Early Music "In the spotlight on several numbers was flutist/bagpiper Chris Norman. Norman is a commanding, expressive player. He sails through dances with endless energy, giving the sort of continuous circular motion to his phrases that makes it tough to just sit still and listen. These pieces demand actual dancing. Norman plays with the expressive freedom of a singer and the improvisational freedom of a jazz player. He manages colorful, controlled sounds and accurate pitch even from instruments as unwieldy as the bellows-operated bagpipes or as cantankerous as a keyless Renaissance flute." -- Milwaukee Sentinel " . . . pleased to hear the distinctive, virtuoso flute playing of Chris Norman, unquestionably the world's foremost performer of this [Scottish Baroque] repertoire (and a consummate musician by any standard), whose wide-ranging skills are on display as both soloist and accompanist." -- Classics Today " . . .you might describe Chris Norman as the Jean-Pierre Rampal or the James Galway of the wooden flute . . . he is in a class by himself for the agility, the expressiveness, the subtlety of dynamics and phrasing that he generates . . ." -- Washington Post " . . .you'd never hear such warm, organic, mellow tone from a sliver flute. Norman's not just a virtuoso, he's a flute-playing wonder" -- HiFi Review " . . . distinctive, virtuoso flute playing . . . unquestionably the world's foremost performer of Scottish Baroque repertoire (and a consummate musician by any standard), whose wide-ranging skills were on display as both soloist and accompanist . . ." -- Classics Today " . . .bar none the best traditional flute player in the country" -- Indianapolis Star " . . .exquisite . . .[on Highlands] Norman's flute playing is so strong and engaging that it takes an effort to realize there is an orchestra with him." -- Dirty Linen "Chris Norman is one of the most exciting flute players today. . . [He] is able to create so much expression with grace and clarity in his playing, and he knows how to arrange a tune for maximum impact and effect. ...It 's obvious when listening to Norman play that he has a deep and irrevocable connection to folk music. Whether playing an Irish, Canadian, or American tune, Norman captures the essence of the people behind the music in his delightful phrasing, gentle lilt, and unquestionable passion. Norman's clear, pure tone is matched only by the soul he breathes into his music." -- Green Man Review " . . .Chris Norman's easy technical prowess seems to inspire the other instrumentalists to heights of laid-back virtuosity." -- Early Music Review "One of the warmest, loveliest tines ever heard by the human ear . . .Chris Norman is a master. -- The Herald, Provo UT